NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. – The Moon Lake Park has been closed by Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources due to rapidly rising water levels.

Pasco Parks Superintendent Cristina Cordon expressed that protecting properties is the reason behind the ramp closing.

“It can cause erosions to their properties,” Cordon said. “So, if you have your backyard kind of right up to the water’s edge, as the water rises, it can kind of wash out your yard.”

Neighbors expressed their frustrations in the past when it comes to rising waters and the destruction it can cause to properties.

“I’m surprised they closed it so quickly. Usually, we have to call and rant and rave,” said Cathy Holland, who lives along Moon Lake. “I’m also grateful, because anybody that’s put any money into a seawall or some kind of embankment, it just gets beat to hell.”

“Most of these houses were built in the ‘60s, maybe early ‘70s,” said Holland. “They all have septic tanks, predominantly behind their homes. When this lake starts coming up and percolating over the top of that, that’s when you’ll have to close the parks.”

One boater, Keith Anderson, was surprised when he arrived at Moon Lake Park to find the ramp locked.

“We pulled in, I was like, ‘What’s going on?’” Anderson said of first seeing the fence.

“It’s kind of a big inconvenience because to go put it in the water somewhere else is much further away for us,” said Anderson.

Within the county Moon Lake is one of the two freshwater ramps available, the second being in Dade City.

Anderson reasons for why the decision was made.

“Especially with the water high like that, if people are out there running around real fast, it creates a pretty big wave. It’ll splash up into their yards, and it could ruin some stuff,” Anderson said.

Anthony Carman wasn’t worried about getting his boat into the water, but concerned with getting it out.

“I got the boat dropped off here by some old fellow that didn’t want it, and when I came back the next morning, the boat ramp was closed. I haven’t been able to get my boat out of the water for two days now,” Carman said.

Park officials are coordinating with Carman to remove the boat by Thursday.

Once water levels have subsided enough the ramp will be reopened, water levels are monitored by park officials explains Cordon.