FloatETA (“we,” “us,” or “this site”) at floateta.com is a river float-planning website. This policy explains what information is collected, how advertising works, and how to opt out. By using the site, you agree to this policy.
Information we collect
We do not require an account and we do not ask for payment information.
- River reports you submit. If you post an obstruction report, we store the river, hazard type, optional location, description, optional name, and the time it was submitted. Vote counts (“still there” / “cleared”) are stored with the report. Do not include phone numbers, addresses, or other personal details in a report.
- Vote memory on your device. We store a list of report IDs you have already voted on in your browser’s local storage so the same browser is less likely to vote twice. This stays on your device.
- Server logs. Our host (currently Render) may log standard request data such as IP address, browser type, date/time, and the page requested. We use this to run and debug the site, not to build marketing profiles.
- Optional put-in time. If you enter a launch time, it is used only in your browser to estimate take-out time. It is not sent to our server.
- Contact form. If you use the contact page, we store your name, email, message, and the time it was sent so we can read it and reply.
Information we do not collect on purpose
We do not collect names or emails except the optional reporter name on a river report. We do not sell personal information. We do not run a user login.
Third-party services
The site loads data and ads from other companies. Those services have their own privacy policies:
- USGS Water Services — live streamflow and water temperature. Your browser requests this data directly. See the USGS privacy policy.
- Open-Meteo — air temperature, wind, rain chance, and UV at the put-in. Your browser requests this data directly. See Open-Meteo terms.
- Google Fonts — fonts for the page. Google may receive your IP address when fonts load. See Google’s privacy policy.
- Render — hosts the website. See Render’s privacy policy.
- Google AdSense — advertising, described below.
Advertising and cookies (Google AdSense)
We use Google AdSense to display ads and to support the site. Google and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to show ads, measure how ads perform, and (where allowed) personalize ads based on your visits to this site and other sites.
- Google’s use of advertising cookies is covered by the Google Advertising Privacy Policy.
- You can opt out of personalized Google ads at Google Ads Settings.
- You can opt out of many third-party interest-based ads at aboutads.info and, for EU users, youronlinechoices.eu.
- Third-party vendors, including Google, use cookies to serve ads based on a user’s prior visits to this website or other websites.
- Google’s use of advertising cookies enables it and its partners to serve ads to you based on your visit to this site and/or other sites on the Internet.
If ads are not yet live, this section still applies once AdSense is enabled on the site.
How we use information
- To show live river conditions and float-time estimates
- To publish and moderate community obstruction reports
- To keep the site working, secure, and backed up
- To display advertising through Google AdSense
How long we keep reports
Obstruction reports are hidden after 45 days unless someone confirms they are still there. Reports marked cleared by enough users are also hidden. Hidden reports may remain in our stored data for a time for abuse review, then are discarded in the ordinary course of operating the site.
Children
This site is about outdoor recreation and is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal information, contact us and we will delete it.
Your choices
- You can use the site without submitting a report or a name.
- You can clear local storage in your browser to remove the vote-memory list.
- You can block cookies in your browser; ads and some third-party features may not work as intended.
- You can request that we delete a report that contains your personal information by contacting us with enough detail to find it (river, date, and the text of the report).
Security
No website is perfectly secure. We take reasonable steps to protect report data, but you should not submit secrets, exact home addresses, or other sensitive personal information in a river report.
Changes
We may update this policy as the site, hosting, or advertising setup changes. The “Last updated” date at the top will change when we do. Continued use of the site after an update means you accept the revised policy.
Contact
Questions about privacy or advertising: use the contact form. Include a real email if you want a reply.