be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc

+ ## Drone Rules - Assabet River NWR, Massachusetts
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; ongoing UXO remediation creates additional federal safety restrictions on certain impacted parcels.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Former Fort Devens/Sudbury Military Reservation; Army Corps of Engineers UXO remediation is ongoing in the western parcels
+ - Worcester Regional (ORH) Class D is ~15 NM west; Boston Logan (BOS) Class B outer ring may extend toward the refuge in some altitude shells
+ - Wood turtle (state threatened) and blanding's turtle (state threatened) are the target species for refuge management
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - UXO remediation areas: drone operations near active remediation zones risk disturbing equipment or workers; contact Army Corps UXO program before any flight near marked zones
+ - LAANC check for ORH Class D before flights in Middlesex County
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; turtle research permits go to USFWS Northeast Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Assabet River: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/assabet-river
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Back Bay NWR, Virginia
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; NAS Oceana (NTU) Class D and military airspace create severe dual-restriction complexity.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - NAS Oceana (NTU) Class D is ~5 NM northwest; F/A-18 Hornet training approaches operate at low altitude over the Back Bay corridor
+ - FACSFAC VACAPES Operating Area includes Warning Areas W-72 offshore; UAS pilots must track activation status
+ - Loggerhead sea turtle nesting (May-October) and piping plover nesting (April-August) both require ESA protection on the ocean beach
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC required near NAS Oceana Class D; most grid squares over the refuge authorize 0 ft AGL due to the F/A-18 approaches
+ - Military jet traffic below 500 ft AGL is frequent -- drone launch creates severe collision risk without ATC coordination
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; military coordination with NAS Oceana airspace management required simultaneously
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Back Bay: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/back-bay
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Lee Metcalf NWR, Montana
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located in Ravalli County, ~30 NM south of Missoula; Missoula International (MSO) Class C outer ring extends ~20 NM south and may reach the refuge
+ - Osprey nesting platforms on the Bitterroot River are active April-August; 100-meter no-approach buffer required under USFWS policy
+ - Bald eagle pairs nest in the large cottonwoods; Bald Eagle Protection Act applies
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC check for MSO Class C outer ring before flights in Ravalli County
+ - Osprey nesting season (April-August): 100-meter (330 ft) lateral buffer from nest platforms; drone shadow triggers disturbance response even beyond 100 meters
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Lee Metcalf: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/lee-metcalf
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Deer Flat NWR, Idaho
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; Boise Airport (BOI) Class C airspace extends over the Lake Lowell (Deer Flat) unit.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Lake Lowell unit is ~30 NM southwest of Boise; BOI Class C outer ring extends ~25 NM and covers the refuge
+ - Snake River islands host the largest American white pelican colony in the Pacific Flyway (~8,000 breeding adults); any drone approach to a colony triggers mass flush with documented chick mortality
+ - Bureau of Reclamation manages Deer Flat Dam; dam structure is critical infrastructure
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC required under BOI Class C for Lake Lowell unit; most grid squares authorize 0-100 ft AGL
+ - White pelican breeding colony (April-August): absolute no-fly zone within 0.5 miles of Snake River islands; violations have resulted in chick deaths and federal charges
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; pelican colony permits require USFWS Pacific Region biologist sign-off
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Deer Flat: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/deer-flat
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Kirwin NWR, Kansas
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA protections for whooping crane.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Whooping cranes stop at Kirwin Reservoir March-April during northward migration from Aransas NWR to Wood Buffalo NP (Canada)
+ - Salina Regional (SLN) Class D is ~75 NM south; Concordia Municipal (CNK) Class G is the nearest local airport
+ - US Bureau of Reclamation manages Kirwin Dam; dam structure is critical infrastructure with 500-ft no-fly buffer
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Whooping crane stopover (March-April): USFWS zero-tolerance no-drone policy during confirmed crane presence; contact refuge office for daily crane status
+ - Bureau of Reclamation dam: 500-ft no-fly buffer from dam structure independent of USFWS refuge rules
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; whooping crane presence triggers Whooping Crane Recovery Team involvement in permit review
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Kirwin: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kirwin
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Nisqually NWR, Washington
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; Joint Base Lewis-McChord (KLEW) Class D and restricted airspace overlap the northern refuge boundary.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located at the southern end of Puget Sound; JBLM's R-6703 restricted area borders the refuge to the north
+ - Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) Class B outer ring extends south toward Nisqually Delta; LAANC check required for all flights near the refuge
+ - Nisqually Delta is a critical wintering area for dabbling ducks and shorebirds; JBLM and the refuge coordinate on low-altitude airspace management
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC check for SEA Class B and JBLM restricted area before any flight near the Nisqually Delta
+ - R-6703 (JBLM) restricted area: when active, no civilian UAS at any altitude; activation schedule available via NOTAMs
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits must also be coordinated with JBLM airspace management
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Nisqually: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/billy-frank-jr-nisqually
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Willapa NWR, Washington
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - 16,000-acre refuge complex including Leadbetter Point, Long Island, and Lewis Unit; one of the largest estuaries on the Pacific Coast
+ - Snowy plover (threatened) nests on Leadbetter Point beach April-August; the nesting area is closed to all public access
+ - Astoria Regional (AST) Class D is ~25 NM south; Portland (PDX) Class B is ~80 NM south; local airspace is Class G
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Snowy plover nesting closure (April-August): entire Leadbetter Point is closed to ground and air access; launching a drone from the public access parking is a federal violation
+ - Old-growth Sitka spruce on Long Island (accessible by boat only): drone noise disrupts Marbled murrelet nesting (threatened)
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; plover season research permits go to USFWS Pacific Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Willapa: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/willapa
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Don Edwards SF Bay NWR, California
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; San Francisco International (SFO) Class B and San Jose International (SJC) Class C both overlay the refuge.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - SFO Class B surface area and SJC Class C both cover portions of the refuge; most LAANC grid squares authorize 0 ft AGL
+ - California clapper rail (endangered) nests in pickleweed marsh; drone noise triggers flush responses and clutch abandonment
+ - California least tern (threatened) nesting colony is present at the Alviso unit; April-August nesting season applies
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Dual Class B/Class C prohibition: LAANC or Part 107 waiver required for any flight near the refuge before even considering the USFWS prohibition
+ - Clapper rail and least tern nesting season (April-August): USFWS enforces physical exclusion zones; drone overflight triggers ESA Section 9 concern
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; applications require SFO Class B waiver coordination simultaneously
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Don Edwards SF Bay NWR: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/don-edwards-san-francisco-bay
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Conboy Lake NWR, Washington
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - 5,814-acre meadow-wetland complex at the base of Mount Adams; Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USFS) and Yakama Nation Reservation border the refuge
+ - Greater sandhill crane nesting pair (one of very few nesting records in western Washington); nesting territory disturbance has direct population-level impact
+ - The Dalles (DLS) Class D is ~25 NM south; Portland (PDX) Class B outer ring is ~50 NM south
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Yakama Nation Reservation borders the refuge; tribal government approval required for any drone operation over reservation land
+ - Crane nesting season (April-July): 0.5-mile exclusion zone around occupied territories; USFWS crane coordinator must be notified
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Pacific Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Conboy Lake: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/conboy-lake
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Hatchie NWR, Tennessee
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - 11,556-acre refuge; the Hatchie River corridor has never been channelized -- the last free-flowing stretch in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley
+ - Pileated woodpecker, prothonotary warbler, and Swainson's warbler are breeding species in the old-growth bottomland
+ - Memphis International (MEM) Class B outer ring: check if western Lauderdale County portions of the refuge fall inside the 30 NM Mode C veil
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Prothonotary warbler nesting (April-July): nest box monitoring program -- USFWS field technicians are active on the trails during nesting season
+ - MEM Class B Mode C veil: Part 107 certification required for any commercial drone flight within 30 NM of MEM
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; permits go to USFWS Hatchie NWR manager
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Hatchie: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/hatchie
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - St. Marks NWR, Florida
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located ~25 miles south of Tallahassee; Tallahassee International (TLH) Class C outer ring extends ~20 NM south and may reach the northern refuge boundary
+ - October monarch butterfly migration: up to 500,000 monarchs roost in the coastal scrub at the peninsula tip before crossing the Gulf of Mexico
+ - Gulf sturgeon (threatened) spawn in the St. Marks River; drone boat-wake vibration at low altitude is a documented concern during August-September upriver runs
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC check for TLH Class C for any flight in the Wakulla County area
+ - Monarch roost (October): USFWS requests no UAS flights within 0.5 miles of documented roost trees during October migration peak
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Southeast Region Florida office
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS St. Marks: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/st-marks
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Trinity River NWR, Texas
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) Class B airspace covers the southern portions of the refuge.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located ~55 NM northeast of Houston in Liberty County; IAH Class B outer ring extends north toward the Liberty area
+ - American alligator, swamp rabbit, and neotropical migratory songbirds use the bottomland hardwood; spring songbird migration (April-May) is peak activity
+ - Beaumont Municipal (BPT) Class D is ~30 NM east; IAH Class B outer ring boundary check via B4UFLY is essential
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC check required for any flight near Liberty County -- IAH Class B outer ring may reach the refuge boundary
+ - Alligator nesting season (June-August): USFWS recommends no flights within 500 ft of active nest mounds
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Southwest Region Texas office
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Trinity River: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/trinity-river
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Sequoyah NWR, Oklahoma
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located at the confluence of the Arkansas River and Canadian River in eastern Oklahoma; Fort Smith Regional (FSM) Class C is ~15 NM east
+ - Up to 6,000 American white pelicans stage on the river sandbars in September-October -- pelicans are colonial and highly sensitive to aerial disturbance
+ - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Kerr Lock and Dam is within the refuge; dam is critical infrastructure
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC required near FSM Class C for any flight in the Sequoyah County area
+ - Army Corps dam structure: 500-ft no-fly buffer from the Kerr Dam applies within the refuge
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; pelican research permits go to USFWS Southwest Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Sequoyah: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sequoyah
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Hagerman NWR, Texas
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located on Lake Texoma (Texas/Oklahoma border); Dallas/Fort Worth International (DFW) Class B outer ring extends ~30 NM south -- the refuge is ~40 NM north of DFW
+ - Gainesville Municipal (GLE) Class D is ~15 NM west; Ardmore Municipal (ADM) Class D is ~25 NM north in Oklahoma
+ - Osprey nesting on the Lake Texoma coves; Bald Eagle Protection Act applies to resident and wintering eagle pairs
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - DFW Class B Mode C veil (30 NM) requires Part 107 certification for commercial flights in the area -- check exact boundary for Hagerman
+ - Army Corps of Engineers manages Lake Texoma; dam and lock structures are critical infrastructure with a 500-ft no-fly buffer
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Southwest Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Hagerman: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/hagerman
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Muleshoe NWR, Texas
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Up to 500,000 sandhill cranes winter here November-February; this is the single largest wintering crane concentration on Earth
+ - Drone launch during crane roost departure (dawn) or roost arrival (dusk) would cause mass panic flight in a flock of half a million birds
+ - Lubbock Preston Smith International (LBB) Class C is ~65 NM south; Muleshoe Municipal (MUL) Class G is the nearest local airport
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Dawn/dusk roost movements: USFWS has documented drone events causing crane collisions and deaths at other High Plains refuges; zero-tolerance enforcement
+ - Playa lake habitat (shallow, GPS-reflective): drone controller signal can be degraded by playa surface water reflections at low altitude
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; crane season permits require USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region approval
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Muleshoe: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/muleshoe
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Sand Lake NWR, South Dakota
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Up to 1 million snow geese stage here in October; the refuge holds the record for the largest single-day snow goose count in the Central Flyway
+ - Aberdeen Regional (ABR) Class D is ~15 NM west; LAANC required for any flight within ABR surface area
+ - Great Plains wind is extreme in October; UAS wind tolerance limits are frequently exceeded during peak migration
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC check for ABR Class D before any flight in the Brown County area
+ - October peak migration: USFWS ranger presence is highest of the year; citations have been issued at the visitor parking areas
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; migration season permits require USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region approval
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Sand Lake: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sand-lake
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Sherburne NWR, Minnesota
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located ~45 NM northwest of Minneapolis; Minneapolis-Saint Paul (MSP) Class B outer ring extends ~30 NM from the city -- check LAANC for the exact boundary at Sherburne
+ - Minnesota's largest trumpeter swan nesting population; incubating pairs are highly sensitive to overhead disturbance (April-June)
+ - St. Cloud Regional (STC) Class D is ~20 NM northwest; B4UFLY consultation recommended for the Sherburne area
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Trumpeter swan nesting (April-June): USFWS enforces 600-ft lateral buffer from all occupied nests
+ - LAANC check required for flights near STC Class D or any MSP Class B spillover into Sherburne County
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; swan research permits require USFWS Midwest Region waterfowl coordinator approval
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Sherburne: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sherburne
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Iroquois NWR, New York
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - 10,818-acre refuge in Orleans/Genesee County; up to 60,000 Canada geese stage here in October
+ - Buffalo Niagara International (BUF) Class C is ~35 NM west; Rochester Douglas (ROC) Class C is ~30 NM east
+ - The Tonawanda State Wildlife Management Area (NY DEC, no drones) is adjacent; drone operators must confirm parcel ownership before launch
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - BUF and ROC Class C outer rings: LAANC required for flights within ~25 NM of either airport (check B4UFLY for exact grid boundary)
+ - October Canada goose staging is the highest-visitor-use month; USFWS ranger presence is elevated
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Northeast Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Iroquois: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/iroquois
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Moosehorn NWR, Maine
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Two management units (Baring and Edmunds) in the Calais/Machias area; the Canada-US border (New Brunswick) is within 10 miles
+ - American woodcock peenting display (April-May at dusk and dawn) is used as a population trend indicator; drone noise disrupts display and invalidates count protocols
+ - Bangor International (BGR) Class C is ~75 NM west; Calais/Machias area is Class G
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - April-May woodcock display season: USFWS conducts annual Singing Ground Survey -- no UAS activity within 0.5 miles of survey points during dawn/dusk counts
+ - Canadian border: drones must not cross into New Brunswick without Transport Canada authorization
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research applications go to USFWS Northeast Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Moosehorn: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/moosehorn
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Missisquoi NWR, Vermont
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Located on the Missisquoi River delta where it meets Lake Champlain; the lake is an international boundary with Canada 5 miles to the north
+ - Burlington International (BTV) Class C outer ring extends over the refuge; LAANC required for any flight in the Swanton/St. Albans area
+ - Up to 50,000 waterfowl use the refuge during October migration; Canada goose staging creates mid-air collision risk
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - BTV Class C LAANC required for flights in the Missisquoi area; the Class C outer ring extends to ~25 NM from Burlington
+ - US-Canada international boundary is 5 miles north; drone operations that drift into Canadian airspace violate Transport Canada regulations
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; Vermont research permits go to USFWS Northeast Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Missisquoi: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/missisquoi
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Kootenai NWR, Idaho
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - 2,774-acre refuge at 1,750 ft MSL in the Kootenai River Valley; Canada geese, mallards, and teal nest in the managed impoundments
+ - Boundary County Airport (BDY) Class G; Spokane International (GEG) Class C is ~75 NM south
+ - The Kootenai River is within 1 mile of the Canada-US border; BC Parks and the Ktunaxa Nation territory begin immediately across the border
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Proximity to Canada border means Canadian border services may monitor unusual aircraft activity; notify CBSA if UAS flight path approaches the border
+ - Greater sandhill crane migration (March-April, September-October) uses the Kootenai Valley -- no UAS during crane stopover periods
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; Idaho Panhandle research permits go to USFWS Pacific Region
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Kootenai: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/kootenai
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Grays Lake NWR, Idaho
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Grays Lake (6,400 ft MSL) is the largest freshwater marsh in North America at high elevation; greater sandhill crane density is the highest in the US
+ - The 1975-1989 whooping crane foster-parent experiment placed whooping crane eggs in sandhill crane nests here; the legacy makes the site a focal point for crane research
+ - Pocatello Regional (PIH) Class C is ~60 NM northwest; Idaho Falls Regional (IDA) Class C is ~40 NM north
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Crane nesting season (April-July): USFWS enforces a 0.5-mile no-fly buffer around occupied territories
+ - High elevation launches (6,400 ft MSL): density altitude up to 9,000 ft DA on summer afternoons; battery and lift capacity significantly reduced
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; sandhill crane research here requires USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region approval
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Grays Lake: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/grays-lake
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - DeSoto NWR, Iowa/Nebraska
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Up to 600,000 snow geese and 100,000 lesser scaup stage on DeSoto Lake and the Missouri River backwaters in October-November
+ - Eppley Airfield (OMA) Class C is ~30 NM south; Council Bluffs Municipal (CBF) Class D is ~30 NM south
+ - Missouri River corridor has active barge traffic; drone/barge radio interference is documented at the river crossing
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - LAANC check for OMA Class C outer ring for flights in the southern portion of the refuge
+ - Peak snow goose staging (October-November): one of the busiest drone-citation locations in the USFWS Midwest Region
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research applications go to USFWS DeSoto manager
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS DeSoto: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/desoto
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Flint Hills NWR, Kansas
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Interior least tern (ESA endangered) nests on sandbars in the Neosho River below John Redmond Reservoir June-August
+ - Bald eagles winter on the reservoir December-February; Bald Eagle Protection Act applies
+ - Coffeyville Regional (CFV) Class D is ~30 NM south; Wichita Eisenhower (ICT) Class C is ~60 NM west
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Least tern sandbar nesting sites (June-August): USFWS closes specific sand bars to all access; drone overflight of closure areas violates ESA Section 9
+ - US Army Corps of Engineers manages John Redmond Reservoir; COE also restricts UAS near dam structures under the Water Resources Development Act
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; least tern season permits go to USFWS Kansas Ecological Services Field Office
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Flint Hills: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/flint-hills
+ 

+ ## Drone Rules - Loess Bluffs NWR, Missouri
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; the eagle congregation makes Bald Eagle Protection Act violations especially probable.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Up to 400 bald eagles gather in early November to feed on migrating snow geese (400,000+ snow geese also use the refuge)
+ - St. Joseph International (STJ) Class D is ~30 NM south; Kansas City International (MCI) Class B outer ring does not reach the refuge
+ - The narrow Loess Hills terrain funnels northeast winds; drone flight near the bluffs involves significant wind shear
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - November eagle/snow goose concentration: USFWS ranger presence is highest of the year; citations have been issued to drone operators in the parking area
+ - Eagle Protection Act: disturbing 400 roosting eagles in a single flight event creates extraordinary federal penalty exposure
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; eagle congregation season applications require USFWS Midwest Region approval
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Loess Bluffs: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/loess-bluffs
+