Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

LakeWatchers ("we", "our", or "us") respects your privacy. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, and share information when you visit lakewatchers.com, access our lake directory, search reservoir elevations, or interact with our services.

2. Information We Collect

A. Anonymous Analytics & Telemetry:

We use Google Analytics (`gtag.js`) to measure aggregate website traffic, page views, regional discovery trends, device screen sizes, and browser versions. Google Analytics collects anonymized IP addresses and uses standard browser cookies. We also use Umami, a privacy-focused analytics tool, to count page views. We do not use analytics to identify individual visitors.

B. Information You Voluntarily Provide:

When you send a contact message, ask a buyer question, report lake conditions, submit a partner request, or join the lake we collect the details you provide (e.g., your name, email address, phone number, and lake preference).

3. How We Use Information

We use the information we collect solely for the following legitimate purposes:

• Delivering reservoir data and boat ramp information.
• Replying to buyer questions, partner requests, and condition reports you send us.
• Optimizing site performance, mobile readability, and navigation structure.
• Responding directly to user inquiries, error reports, and feedback.

4. Forms You Submit

When you submit a form (contact, buyer questions, partner request, or condition report), the information you enter is stored securely with our hosting provider, Cloudflare, and emailed to LakeWatchers through our email provider, Resend, so we can reply. We do not sell your personal information. Sponsored real estate agents shown on lake pages are independent advertisers; we do not share your information with them unless you ask us to connect you.

5. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

LakeWatchers uses first-party and third-party cookies strictly for site functionality, aggregated traffic metrics, and advertising. You may choose to disable or block cookies through your web browser settings at any time without impacting your ability to view public lake levels and charts.

6. Google AdSense & Advertising Disclosures

We use or may use Google AdSense to display advertisements when you visit our website. Google and its third-party advertising partners use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to LakeWatchers or other websites on the internet.

• DoubleClick DART Cookie: Google's use of advertising cookies (including the DoubleClick cookie) enables it and its partners to serve ads to users based on their visit to LakeWatchers and/or other sites across the Internet.
• Opting Out of Personalized Advertising: Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google Ads Settings. Alternatively, you may opt out of third-party vendors' use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the Network Advertising Initiative at optout.networkadvertising.org.
• Third-Party Ad Networks: Third-party ad servers or ad networks may use technology in the advertisements and links that appear on LakeWatchers. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies (such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons) may also be used by third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertisements and to personalize advertising content. LakeWatchers has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

7. Data Security & Retention

We employ industry-standard encryption protocols (HTTPS/TLS) across all website connections and cloud edge infrastructure provided by Cloudflare. Data is retained only as long as necessary to fulfill the operational purpose for which it was collected.

8. Contact Us Regarding Your Privacy

If you have questions about this policy or wish to request deletion of any contact information submitted through our forms, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]
LakeWatchers Privacy Team