Privacy Policy
Last updated: August 12, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how the MusselShield mobile application ("the app") collects, uses, and protects information. The app is operated by Vigilante Consulting on behalf of Bennett West LLC ("we," "us") as part of a Golden Mussel copper-treatment monitoring program. The app is provided to authorized field operators; it is not intended for the general public.
Information we collect
The app collects only what is needed to record and attribute field monitoring readings:
- Monitoring data you enter — copper chemistry (residual copper, pH, temperature, flow), veliger counts and plate condition, mussel mortality observations, qPCR results, laboratory sample identifiers, water-quality values (conductivity, calcium-carbonate hardness, turbidity), treatment details, and free-text notes.
- Photos — plate, meter, and site photos you capture during a reading. These images may contain embedded location metadata.
- Precise location — GPS coordinates (latitude, longitude, and accuracy) captured only at the moment you record a reading, to geo-stamp the field station. The app does not track your location in the background.
- Operator identifier — an account-level operator ID recorded with each reading, together with timestamps, so a reading can be attributed to the person who took it.
- Email address — only if you sign in. The app supports an optional operator sign-in with an email address and password issued by the program administrator. Where an account is used, the readings you record are linked to that account.
Signing in
During the current pilot the app may run on an anonymous session, where you select your operator profile from a list and no email address is collected. The app also contains an invitation-only sign-in for accounts issued by the program administrator. There is no public sign-up, and you cannot create an account yourself.
Information we do NOT collect
- No device identifiers or advertising identifiers.
- No contacts, health, fitness, financial, browsing-history or search-history data.
- No analytics or crash-reporting SDK is included in the app.
- We do not track you across other companies’ apps or websites, we do not share data with data brokers or advertisers, and we do not sell your data.
How we use the information
Collected data is used solely to operate the copper-treatment monitoring program — recording, syncing, reviewing, and reporting on field readings, and attributing each reading to the operator who recorded it. It is not used for advertising or profiling.
How data is stored and shared
Readings and photos are stored on your device and synced over an encrypted (HTTPS) connection to a secure database and file storage hosted on Supabase (a third-party cloud data platform acting as our processor). Access is limited to authorized program personnel. Monitoring results may be shared with the participating irrigation districts and with California state agencies as part of the program’s regulatory reporting. We do not share the data with any other third parties except as required to operate the program or comply with law.
Data security
Data is transmitted over encrypted connections and stored with access controls. No method of transmission or storage is completely secure, but we take reasonable measures to protect the data.
Data retention
Data is retained for the duration of the monitoring program and for as long as needed for program records and legal or regulatory requirements.
Children
The app is a professional field tool and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect information from children.
Your choices
Location and camera access are requested only when needed and can be managed in your device settings. Because the app is used to record official program data, disabling these permissions may prevent it from functioning as intended. To ask what data is held about you, or to request its correction or deletion, contact us at the address below; note that monitoring records themselves may need to be retained for regulatory reasons.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, the “last updated” date above will change with it.
Contact
For questions about this policy or the data collected, contact m@vigilanteconsulting.com.