Arrowhead Lake Association

Trout Notice

The Arrowhead Lake Association has been advised that a Northern California parasite, Salmon Poisoning Disease (SPD) has been detected in our stocked trout.

As a precaution, raw trout should not be consumed by people or pets.

Questions may be addressed to the ALA general manager, John Rutledge at 909-337-2595 x 111.

Steps to launch your boat on Lake Arrowhead

Registration:

You must own property in the Arrowhead Woods.
Have your boat properly registered with both the State of California (or other state) and the Arrowhead Lake Association.
Boat must be registered in the name of the property owner.
The operator of the boat must have an ALA Boat Operators License.
Boat insurance must be current and have ALA named as additional insured with $500,000 in liability.

Boat inspection: An invasive species of mussels causing an environmental and economic disaster in the United States has spread to California. The Arrowhead Lake Association is checking boats launching on our lake to insure that the mussel doesn't spread to this lake.

BOATS THAT HAVE BEEN IN INFECTED WATERS WILL NEED SPECIAL CLEANING BEFORE THEY WILL BE ALLOWED TO LAUNCH IN LAKE ARROWHEAD.

Inspection process:

Any boat launching must be inspected.
The boat may not contain any water in the bilge or live bait area.
Those boats with water in the bilge area may be turned away and not allowed to launch if the water can not be accounted for.
The trailer and any play-craft will also be checked for Contamination.
A period of 7 days of quarantine may be necessary after a suspected contaminated boat has been cleaned and all water removed.

The decision of the ALA employee will be final.

Swimmer's Itch

Swimmer's Itch is a non-contagious skin rash that generally occurs during summer months in both fresh and salt water bodies around the world. It is an allergic reaction to a larval-stage parasite which is released by snails and causes a rash when it mistakenly penetrates a person's skin rather than it rightful host - usually a duck!

Swimmer's Itch is not a communicable or fatal disease. Only about one third of the people who come in contact with the parasite develop Swimmer's Itch.

If Swimmer's Itch develops, an infected individual will feel tingling, burning or itchy skin and soon develop a skin rash. A reaction can be noted within minutes or may be days later. Rash pimples or blisters, much like insect bites, may develop and increase in size over a 24-48 hour period. Itching, which can be severe, generally continues for up to a week or more but gradually decreases.

Children are most often infected due to their habits of swimming or wading in shallow water, because it appears that parasites may concentrate near shorelines. Moreover, children's skin may be more sensitive and prone to developing the rash.

To reduce your risk of exposure:

Swim in water away from the shore.
Avoid swimming near or wading in marshy areas.
Briskly rub skin with a towel or shower immediately after swimming or wading.
Don't encourage birds/ducks to stay near swimming areas by feeding them.

If a reaction occurs, rinse the affected skin lightly with isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and then coat with calamine lotion. Try not to scratch to avoid a secondary infection.

Over-the-counter drugs are also available to reduce the effects. Antihistamines can be used to help relieve the itching while topical steroid creams may help to reduce the swelling. Before taking any of these drugs, however, consult your physician or dermatologist for advice.

Remember, Swimmer's Itch is caused by an allergic reaction. Therefore, if you develop Swimmer's Itch once, the more often you are exposed, the more likely you are to develop symptoms that are more severe and immediate after each exposure.

Please notify the Arrowhead Lake Association at 909-337-2595 if you believe you or your child has developed a case of Swimmer's Itch.