BARTOW, Fla. (Oct. 13, 2024) – Due to heavy rainfall from Hurricane Milton, water levels in the Peace River watershed and specifically, Lake Hancock, have risen to emergency levels. In coordination with the County, the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) and the City of Bartow are working diligently to reduce the downstream impacts by carefully controlling the release of water from Lake Hancock and monitoring the water levels at various upstream and downstream gauges.