The Babcock Lakes () were a series of water ponds formerly located near the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., before the area became the National Mall. In 1878, they were designated as fisheries by the United States Fish Commission, in an effort to increase availability of commercial fish in America. While extant, the lakes played a key role in introducing Eurasian carp into the United States. By 1896, some 2.4 million carp had been distributed from the lakes to restock fish supplies in both North and South America. which became surrounded by the main Babcock Lake. Babcock Lake itself was created from a remnant of the Washington City Canal. A small bridge was constructed to connect to Ripp's Island. Seven of the eight ponds were used for carp breeding, while one was exclusively for use of turtles. The ponds were planted with aquatic vegetation and a small aquarium onsite allowed for public viewing of representative fish. Other fish species that were introduced to the ponds included tench, golden ide, bass and crappie.
German scientist Rudolph Hessel was an early superintendent of the ponds.
The lakes were named after Army engineer Orville E. Babcock, who designed the original ponds.