Lake Hancock boat ramp, closed since Aug. 7 because of rain from Debby, is reopened

BARTOW — Polk County reopened the Lake Hancock boat ramp Friday more than two weeks after it was closed because of high water created by the drenching rains from Hurricane Debby.

The ramp, located off U.S. 98 at at 220 Farm Road in Bartow, was closed on Aug. 7. The county said conditions were unsafe for boaters. Circle B Bar Reserve was closed for about a week after Debby because of flooded trails.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District operates the Lake Hancock water control structure next to the boat ramp to reduce flooding in surrounding communities by allowing water to flow downstream to the Peace River, the county said Friday in a news release.

But that's a delicate balancing act. The city of Bartow declared an emergency on Aug. 13 as the Peace River neared flood stage, largely because of water flowing from areas such as Lake Hancock. No significant flooding occurred, but the danger was real enough that Bartow took emergency steps to protect a critical wastewater facility near the banks of the river.

The boat ramp could be closed again if there is significant rain in the areas that drain to Lake Hancock, the county said.

For additional information on trail closures, contact Polk County Parks and Natural Resources Division at 863-668-4673.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Lake Hancock boat ramp, closed since Aug. 7 because of rain from Debby, is reopened