BY TERRY AHNER

TAHNER@TNONLINE.COM

Beltzville Lake had to be shut down Sunday afternoon after it became filled to capacity.

Park rangers closed the lake with assistance from state police at around 2:30 p.m., according to Alma Holmes, Beltzville park ranger.

Holmes said the decision to close the lake was made after the overflow lot reached a certain capacity.

“We do based on when our parking spaces fill, and we have an overflow lot,” Holmes said. “(It’s) when the overflow fills to a certain percentage.”

Holmes said it wasn’t a case where vehicles had to be towed.

“It didn’t get to that point; people were parking off the road and they weren’t impeding traffic,” she said. “When they start impeding traffic, that’s when we start towing.”

Despite being turned away, Holmes said visitors handled the news well.

“People were disappointed that the park was closed,” she said. “But they abided by the rules and regulations.”

Holmes said the situation isn’t uncommon for this time of year.

“Usually we only close like this Fourth of July or around that time of year,” she said. “When the weather gets like it was yesterday, it’s not unheard of.”

With the Fourth of July holiday weekend looming, Holmes said she anticipates much the same.

“We do expect crowds similar next weekend due to the Fourth,” she said.