Privacy Policy
Last updated: March 11, 2026
This policy applies to the WaterLands website (waterlands.app) and the WaterLands iOS mobile application.
1. Information We Collect
Account information: When you create an account, we collect your username, email address, and name.
Usage data: We collect data such as pages visited, rivers and stations you interact with, and feature usage patterns.
Location data (mobile app): With your permission, the mobile app collects your precise GPS location to track fishing sessions and display your position on the map. When you start a fishing session, the app may collect location data in the background to record your route. Location data is only collected while a session is active and you have granted permission. You can revoke location access at any time through your device settings.
On-device storage (mobile app): The mobile app stores fishing session data, catch records, and environmental snapshots locally on your device using an on-device database. This data remains on your device until you choose to upload it to your WaterLands account.
Cookies (website): We use cookies to maintain your session and remember your preferences. If you interact with third-party ads displayed on WaterLands, those ad networks may set their own cookies.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To provide and maintain your account and personalized experience
- To track and display your fishing sessions, catches, and environmental conditions
- To show your position on maps and record GPS tracks during active sessions
- To send transactional emails (password resets, account notifications)
- To display relevant advertisements
- To improve our services and develop new features
- To monitor and prevent abuse of our platform
3. Data Sharing
We do not sell your personal information. We may share data with:
- Service providers that help us operate WaterLands (hosting, email delivery, payment processing)
- Ad networks that display advertisements on our platform
- Law enforcement when required by law
Your fishing session data and location history are private to your account and are not shared with other users or third parties unless you explicitly choose to share them.
4. Data Storage & Security
Your data is stored on secure servers. Passwords are hashed using industry-standard algorithms. We use HTTPS for all communications and HTTP-only cookies for session management on the web.
The mobile app stores authentication tokens securely in the iOS Keychain. Session data stored locally on your device is kept in an on-device SQLite database and is not accessible to other apps.
5. Your Rights
You may request to access, correct, or delete your personal data at any time by contacting us. You can also delete your account through your account settings. Deleting your account will remove all server-side data including uploaded fishing sessions. Data stored locally on your device can be removed by deleting the app.
6. Cookies
On the website, we use the following types of cookies:
- Essential cookies: Required for authentication and core functionality
- Preference cookies: Remember your settings like default state
- Advertising cookies: Used by ad networks to serve relevant ads
You can control cookie preferences through the cookie consent banner or your browser settings. The mobile app does not use cookies.
7. Third-Party Services
WaterLands uses data from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Weather Service (NWS), and the Colorado Division of Water Resources (CO DWR). Our use of this data is governed by their respective terms.
We also use Cloudflare Turnstile for bot protection and Stripe for payment processing. The mobile app uses Apple MapKit for map display.
8. Children's Privacy
WaterLands is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has provided us with personal information, please contact us and we will delete it.
9. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify registered users of material changes via email.
10. Contact
For privacy-related questions, contact us at privacy@waterlands.app.