Privacy Policy

This Privacy Policy explains how LakeCharts USA ("we", "us", "our") handles information when you visit lakechartsusa.com (the "Site"). LakeCharts USA is operated by Joe Freeman. Questions: [email protected].

Information we collect

Like most websites, the Site and our service providers automatically collect limited technical information when you visit, such as your IP address, browser and device type, operating system, referring page, pages viewed, approximate location derived from your IP address, and the date and time of your visit. This information is collected through server logs, cookies and similar technologies (pixels, local storage, device identifiers).

If you email us (including through a "report an issue" feedback link), we receive the address you send from and whatever you write, including the page URL we pre-fill in that message. We use that only to reply and to fix or improve the Site.

Cookies and similar technologies

Cookies are small text files stored on your device. We and our partners may use:

• Essential / security cookies set by our hosting and content-delivery provider (Cloudflare) to deliver the Site and protect it from abuse.
• Analytics cookies (Google Analytics) to understand how visitors use the Site.
• Advertising cookies used to show and measure ads (Google AdSense).
• Affiliate and partner cookies set by our travel partners (including Stay22, GetYourGuide, Viator and, where we add them, partners such as FishingBooker, GetMyBoat, Boatsetter or Rakuten) or the merchants they link to, when a partner widget loads or you click an affiliate link, so listings can be shown and the referral credited to us.

You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Blocking some cookies may affect how the Site works.

The free lake and river embed widgets used on other websites do not include Google Analytics, ads, or other third-party tracking scripts.

Analytics (Google Analytics)

We use Google Analytics 4, a web analytics service provided by Google LLC, to understand how visitors find and use the Site so we can improve it. Google Analytics sets first-party cookies (such as _ga and _ga_<container-id>, which last up to 2 years) to distinguish visitors and sessions.

• What is collected: pages viewed, referring site, approximate location, device and browser type, and events such as clicks on affiliate or tour links, the feedback link, and copying the embed-widget code. These help us see which pages and tools people use.
• What is not collected: we do not send your name, email address or other directly identifying information to Google Analytics. Google Analytics 4 does not log or store IP addresses.
• Retention: user-level Analytics data is kept for the retention period set in our Google Analytics account (no longer than 14 months) and is then deleted; aggregated reports may be kept longer.
• Google's use: Google processes this data under the Google Privacy Policy; see also how Google uses information from sites or apps that use its services.
• Consent Mode: if you visit from the European Economic Area, the United Kingdom or Switzerland, we use Google Consent Mode so advertising and analytics storage default to "denied." In that state Google Analytics cookies are not set on your device; Google may still receive limited cookieless signals (for example that a page was viewed, with no cookie identifiers). When Google AdSense is enabled, visitors in those regions may see Google's certified consent message (a certified consent management platform), which can update this consent. You can also prevent Google Analytics from collecting data about you by installing the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on, or by blocking or deleting cookies in your browser.

Advertising (Google AdSense)

We use Google AdSense to show advertisements on the Site. Google and its advertising partners may use cookies and similar technologies to show ads, measure how they perform, and (where allowed) show ads that are more relevant to you. This can include information about your visit (pages viewed, approximate location from your IP address, device and browser type) and, if you are signed in to a Google account, information associated with that account, subject to your Google ad settings.

You can opt out of personalized advertising by Google at Google Ads Settings. You can also opt out of personalized ads from many participating companies at aboutads.info/choices (US) or youronlinechoices.eu (EU). Turning off personalized ads does not stop ads from appearing; it means the ads you see may be less relevant. Google's use of information is described in the Google Privacy Policy and Google advertising technologies.

Affiliate and trip-planning partners

Some lake and river pages include links or widgets from travel partners. Those partners act under their own privacy policies:

• Stay22 (hotel and vacation-rental map and links, which redirect to booking sites such as Booking.com, Expedia or Vrbo): Stay22 privacy policy.
• GetYourGuide (tours and activities links): GetYourGuide privacy policy.
• Viator, a Tripadvisor company (tours, boat trips and fishing charters links): Viator privacy policy.

The Stay22 map is loaded from Stay22's servers only when you scroll down to that section of the page. When it loads, or when you click a partner link, the partner (and the booking site it sends you to) can receive your IP address, browser information and the page you came from, and may set cookies or similar technologies on your device to show relevant listings, measure the widget, prevent fraud and credit the referral to us. You can block or delete these cookies in your browser settings; partner links will still work, but we may not be credited for the referral. More detail is on the affiliate links section of About.

How we share information

We do not sell your personal information for money. We share information with service providers that help us run the Site (such as Cloudflare for hosting and Google for analytics and advertising), with affiliate partners as described above, and when required by law or to protect rights and safety. Information may be processed in the United States and other countries.

Your privacy rights in the United States (including California CCPA/CPRA)

Depending on where you live, you may have the right to know what personal information we collect, to access or obtain a copy of it, to correct or delete it, and to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information, as those terms are defined under the California Consumer Privacy Act as amended by the CPRA and similar state laws. Allowing advertising cookies on the Site may be considered "sharing" under California law. You can opt out of personalized advertising as described in Advertising (Google AdSense) above.

To make a request, email [email protected]. We will verify requests as required by law and will not discriminate against you for exercising your rights. You may use an authorized agent. Personal information is kept only as long as needed for the purposes above (Google Analytics data is retained for no longer than 14 months, as described above).

Children's privacy

The Site is not directed at children under 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them. If you believe a child has provided us information, email us and we will delete it.

Changes

We may update this policy from time to time. The updated policy will be posted on this page.

The Site links to other websites (such as USGS, NOAA and partner sites). We are not responsible for their privacy practices; please review their policies.