Contact Us
Have a question, found an error in the data, or want to provide feedback? We'd love to hear from you.
The fastest way to reach us is by email: hello@plainlakes.com
Data Corrections
If you believe any data displayed on PlainLakes is inaccurate, email corrections@plainlakes.com. Include the lake page URL, the specific value that looks wrong, and the official source you are comparing against. PlainLakes sources its data from EPA ATTAINS assessment records and USGS NWIS water-level observations, and every correction report is checked against those cited source records.
What to Contact Us About
We read every message sent to PlainLakes. The inbox sees a wide mix of traffic, and sorting mail correctly helps us respond faster. Good reasons to get in touch include: reporting a factual error in a lake's assessment status or water-level record, asking how an assessment verdict or impairment cause should be read, suggesting a waterbody view or dataset we should add, letting us know a page is broken or slow, submitting a partnership or media proposal, or requesting quote permission for a news article. Researchers working on water quality, limnology, or Clean Water Act reporting are especially welcome to reach out about data-source questions, methodology clarifications, or academic collaborations.
Response Time
This site is solo-operated, so replies come from one person. We aim to respond to data-correction reports and straightforward questions within 72 hours on business days. Partnership inquiries, media requests, and longer research exchanges may take up to one week during busy periods. If your message is time-sensitive (a legal matter, a security concern, or a press deadline), please say so in the subject line and we will prioritize it accordingly.
Editorial Corrections Process
When you report a factual error, please include (a) the exact URL of the affected lake page, (b) the field or sentence you believe is wrong, (c) what the correct value should be, and (d) a link or citation to the official record, such as the ATTAINS entry or the USGS gage page. Because assessment verdicts originate with the state and tribal agencies that file them and with EPA, a value that faithfully reflects the published record cannot be changed on this side; in that case we will point you to the primary source, and we can often annotate the page with a correction notice in the meantime. We do not remove accurate information just because it is unflattering; we will consider removal requests only where the information is materially inaccurate, outdated past its retention horizon, or subject to a legal right under applicable law.
Privacy and Legal Requests
For privacy-related requests (access, deletion, opt-out), please use privacy@plainlakes.com; see our Privacy Policy for the full list of rights. For subpoenas, DMCA notices, or other formal legal correspondence, use legal@plainlakes.com. Routing legal mail to the general inbox can delay our response; please use the dedicated addresses when the situation calls for them.
About PlainLakes
PlainLakes is an independent editorial operation that builds plain-language reference pages for U.S. lakes and reservoirs from official public records: EPA ATTAINS assessment decisions and USGS NWIS water-level observations. PlainLakes compiles and checks public datasets and does not accept payment from any entity connected to the waterbodies it covers. For corrections, data questions, or anything about the methodology, the addresses above are the fastest way to reach PlainLakes.
Who Publishes This
PlainLakes is operated by Kiznis Studio, an independent data-engineering studio (solo-operated). Questions, corrections, and accountability inquiries can be sent to hello@plainlakes.com.