P-11 dam
P-11
P-11, also known as Lake Hancock, is a concrete dam located in Bartow, Florida, with a primary purpose of flood risk reduction. Completed in 1965, this dam stands at 2.7 feet tall with a hydraulic height of 9.6 feet and a length of 110 feet. It has a normal storage capacity of 44,048 acre-feet and a maximum discharge of 1,100 cubic feet per second. The dam is situated on Saddle Creek, within the jurisdiction of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency SWFWMD.
With a surface area of 4,541 acres and a drainage area of 131 square miles, P-11 has a significant hazard potential and is classified as very high risk. Despite not having a condition assessment rating, the dam's risk level is closely monitored, with emergency action plans in place and regular inspections conducted. It serves as a crucial infrastructure for managing water resources and mitigating flood risks in the region. For water resource and climate enthusiasts, P-11 provides a fascinating case study in dam engineering and the intersection of water management and environmental stewardship in Florida's water-rich landscape.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around P-11 -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Peace River At Bartow Fl | 4 cfs | → |
| Peace Creek Near Bartow Fl | 3 cfs | → |
| Banana-Hancock Canal Nr Highland City | · | → |
| Saddle Creek At State Hwy 570 Near Eaton Park Fl | 0 cfs | → |
| Peace River Near Bartow Fl | · | → |
| Lake Lena Run Near Auburndale Fl | 0 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near P-11.
Boat launches
- Highlands By The Lake Way 3184, Lakeland
- West Eagle Avenue, Eagle Lake
- East Eagle Avenue 942, Eagle Lake
- Lake Sears Drive 102, Winter Haven
- Lake Shipp Drive 1605-1699, Winter Haven
- Saddle Creek Park Road 988, Polk County
Campgrounds
- Saddle Creek County Park
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 4
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 3
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 2
- Alderman's Ford Park Campsite 1
- Edward Medard
Fishing spots
More reservoirs
Track P-11 in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About P-11
Where does the data for P-11 come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of P-11.