be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc

## Drone Rules - Cape Romain NWR, South Carolina

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; boat access only makes enforcement remote but citations have been issued.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Bull Island and Cape Island host the largest loggerhead sea turtle nesting aggregation in the Southeast outside Florida
- Drone overflight during nesting season (May-October) at night disrupts light-sensitive nesting behavior; daytime flights disturb hatchery probes
- Charleston International (CHS) Class C outer ring extends toward the cape; local airspace is Class G/E

### Key Rules
- Loggerhead sea turtle (threatened) and leatherback sea turtle (endangered) both nest here; ESA Section 9 take prohibition applies
- Boat-launched drone from outside refuge waters still violates USFWS Director's Order 210 once the UAS enters refuge airspace
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for sea turtle research UAS; only active at night with extreme lighting protocols

### Source
- USFWS Cape Romain: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/cape-romain

## Drone Rules - Bombay Hook NWR, Delaware

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- 16,251-acre tidal marsh; peak snow goose staging in November can reach 100,000 birds on the impoundments
- Dover AFB (DOV) Class D is ~10 NM southwest; Dover handles C-17 Globemaster traffic at low altitude over Kent County
- Red knot (threatened) spring staging (May) overlaps with Delaware Bay horseshoe crab spawn; population-level impacts from disturbance are documented

### Key Rules
- Dover AFB NOTAMs include low-level military flight corridors that extend northeast over the refuge
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research UAS; red knot staging season (May) permits are subject to USFWS shorebird biologist review
- The Wildlife Drive auto tour loop skirts all four impoundments; launching from the drive road is a federal violation

### Source
- USFWS Bombay Hook: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bombay-hook

## Drone Rules - Great Swamp NWR, New Jersey

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; the Great Swamp Wilderness (3,660 acres) adds a Wilderness Act prohibition.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Newark Liberty International (EWR) Class B outer rings extend over portions of Morris County; Morristown Municipal (MMU) Class D is ~3 NM north
- The refuge is a critical stopover for migrating wood ducks, black ducks, and Eastern box turtles (state threatened)
- Dense suburban surroundings mean drone noise complaints are common from adjacent homeowners

### Key Rules
- EWR Class B and MMU Class D LAANC required for any flight within 5 NM of the refuge -- most grid squares authorize 0-100 ft AGL
- Wilderness designation provides an independent federal prohibition for the core wetland area
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; New Jersey DEP may also require separate state notification

### Source
- USFWS Great Swamp: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/great-swamp

## Drone Rules - Parker River NWR, Massachusetts

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Plum Island barrier bar; piping plover (threatened) and least tern (MA state threatened) nest on the beach April-August
- Beverly Municipal (BVY) Class D is ~15 NM south; Lawrence Municipal (LWM) Class D is ~12 NM west
- Frequent New England fog and coastal sea breeze limit practical UAS windows even outside the refuge boundary

### Key Rules
- Plover nesting season (April-August): beach closures make drone overflight especially impactful -- eggs and chicks are invisible from altitude
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; applications must include a piping plover disturbance avoidance plan
- Launching from public beach access outside the refuge boundary and overflying refuge is a federal violation

### Source
- USFWS Parker River: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/parker-river

## Drone Rules - Edwin B. Forsythe NWR, New Jersey

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Atlantic City International (ACY) Class C airspace overlaps the refuge; LAANC authorization required for any flight in the vicinity even outside the refuge boundary
- Over 200,000 shorebirds stage at the refuge in May during the horseshoe crab spawn -- one of the Western Hemisphere's greatest wildlife spectacles
- Red knot (threatened) and ruddy turnstone depend on horseshoe crab eggs; disturbance during peak feeding reduces pre-migration fat reserves critically

### Key Rules
- ACY Class C LAANC required for surrounding flights; 0 ft AGL in some refuge grid squares
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research UAS; applications during May shorebird season are rarely approved
- Barnegat Bay boat launches near the refuge do not confer right to launch UAS over refuge waters

### Source
- USFWS Forsythe: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/edwin-b-forsythe

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit

## Geographic Boundaries
Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge is located in Comanche
County, Oklahoma, in the Wichita Mountains.
- Total area: ~59,020 acres
- Coordinates: 34.7333° N, 98.6833° W
- Includes Mount Scott (2,464 ft), Lake Lawtonka, Quanah Parker Lake,
  and Charons Garden Wilderness Area
- Nearest city: Lawton, OK (~25 miles southeast)

## Regulations
- USFWS Refuge UAS Policy prohibits all UAS without Special Use Permit
- 50 CFR § 27.34 — USFWS motorized equipment prohibition on refuges
- Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Charons Garden Wilderness
  (~5,000 acres) within refuge
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects migratory
  species from harassment or disturbance
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge

## Penalties
- USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34
- Wilderness Act penalties for motorized equipment in wilderness zones
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per disturbance
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by USFWS officers

## Special Permissions
- USFWS Special Use Permit for scientific wildlife research
- Wilderness research permit for Charons Garden zone
- Documentary/media subject to strict seasonal USFWS review
Submit requests to: Wichita Mountains NWR Manager,
32 Quanah Parker Lake Road, Indiahoma, OK 73552

## Drone Rules - Wichita Mountains NWR, Oklahoma



**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- 59,020-acre refuge established in 1905 as one of the first wildlife preserves in the US; the bison herd descends from a Bronx Zoo founder's gift
- A stampeding bison herd creates extreme safety hazards; drone incidents have triggered herd runs in similar refuges
- Lawton-Fort Sill Regional (LAW) Class D is ~25 NM southeast; Tinker AFB Class D is ~80 NM northeast



### Key Rules
- Fort Sill artillery range restricted area (R-5702) may activate over the eastern edge of the refuge; check NOTAMs
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research or commercial UAS; bison herd management protocol must be followed
- Black-capped vireo and black-tailed prairie dog colonies are also ESA-protected on the refuge






### Source
- USFWS Wichita Mountains: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/wichita-mountains

## Drone Rules - Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge

**Drone use is prohibited** at Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.






### Key Rules
- No recreational drone flights over the swamp or refuge lands
- Research use requires a Special Use Permit
- One of the largest intact freshwater ecosystems in the US; thousands of alligators and endangered red-cockaded woodpeckers are protected

### Source
- FWS Refuge Regulations: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee

## Drone Rules - Okefenokee NWR, Georgia

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- 402,000-acre wilderness area; the Okefenokee Wilderness (353,000 acres) is designated as Wilderness and bans motorized equipment including drones independently
- Sandhill crane nesting (rare Florida subspecies) occurs in the interior prairie islands; drone intrusion is a direct threat
- Jacksonville International (JAX) Class C is ~80 NM southeast; local airspace is Class G

### Key Rules
- Wilderness designation provides a second, independent prohibition beyond USFWS Director's Order 210
- Canoe trail system is popular; launching a drone over paddlers in narrow cypress channels violates 14 CFR 107.39
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; Wilderness designation means additional review for any motorized use

### Source
- USFWS Okefenokee: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/okefenokee

## Drone Rules - Merritt Island NWR, Florida

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; permanent KSC TFR (R-2935) overlays the entire refuge.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Kennedy Space Center restricted airspace R-2935 covers the refuge; activation (launches, processing days) creates a hard ceiling -- NO civilian UAS
- Orlando Melbourne International (MLB) Class C is ~10 NM south; Daytona Beach International (DAB) Class C is ~30 NM north
- Over 330 bird species including Florida scrub-jay (threatened), bald eagle nests, and manatees in Indian River Lagoon

### Key Rules
- Check R-2935 status daily via FAA TFR viewer; KSC launch days mean zero civilian airspace access
- Even on non-TFR days, USFWS Director's Order 210 prohibits drones independently of the military airspace restriction
- USFWS/KSC joint Special Use Permit required for research UAS -- dual agency review process

### Source
- USFWS Merritt Island: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/merritt-island

## Drone Rules - J.N. 'Ding' Darling NWR, Florida

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Over 1 million annual visitors; the Wildlife Drive is the most-visited auto tour route in the US refuge system
- Roseate spoonbills and great blue herons nest in the mangroves; drone noise from the Wildlife Drive causes documented flush events
- Southwest Florida International (RSW) Class C outer ring extends to Sanibel Island; LAANC check required before any Sanibel flight

### Key Rules
- RSW Class C covers Sanibel -- LAANC or Part 107 waiver required even for flights outside the refuge boundary
- West Indian manatee (threatened) in refuge waters; low-altitude UAS wake creates surfacing interference
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for commercial or research UAS; visitor photography permits do not cover drones

### Source
- USFWS Ding Darling: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/jn-ding-darling

## Drone Rules - Aransas NWR, Texas

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210 and ESA Section 9 take prohibition for whooping cranes.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The entire wild-flock whooping crane population winters here November-March; a single drone flush event could kill birds
- Corpus Christi International (CRP) Class C is ~60 NM south; Victoria Regional (VCT) Class D is ~40 NM northwest
- San Antonio Bay and Mesquite Bay surround the refuge; boat-launched drones are equally prohibited

### Key Rules
- Whooping crane is among the most endangered birds in North America; intentional or negligent take carries federal felony charges
- USFWS Special Use Permit for research UAS is subject to Whooping Crane Recovery Team review and approval
- No drones from chartered tour boats operating in refuge waters -- boats hold a Special Use Permit that does not extend to UAS

### Source
- USFWS Aransas: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/aransas
- USFWS Whooping Crane Recovery: https://www.fws.gov/project/whooping-crane-recovery

## Drone Rules - Blackwater NWR, Maryland

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Up to 200 bald eagles winter on the refuge; drone noise during early morning roost departures causes documented roost abandonment
- Delmarva Peninsula fox squirrel (ESA threatened) occupies the forest edges -- ground disturbance rules extend to UAS overflights
- Easton Airport (ESN) Class D is ~10 NM northeast; local airspace is Class G/E

### Key Rules
- Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act adds a second layer of federal protection beyond ESA for eagle disturbance
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research UAS; permits are rarely granted during Nov-Feb eagle season
- The Wildlife Drive (auto tour route) borders tidal marsh; launching from the drive is a federal refuge violation

### Source
- USFWS Blackwater: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/blackwater

## Drone Rules - Chincoteague NWR, Virginia

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; the co-located Assateague Island NS (NPS) also bans drones under 36 CFR 1.5.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The wild Assateague Island ponies (Chincoteague strain) roam the refuge; drone disturbance triggers herd panic with documented foal injuries
- Piping plover (threatened) and least tern (state endangered) nest on Tom's Cove beach April-August
- Salisbury Regional (SBY) Class D is ~30 NM west; Ocean City (OCE) Class D is ~10 NM north

### Key Rules
- Both USFWS and NPS jurisdiction cover different parcels of the island; drones are prohibited under both agencies' rules
- Annual pony swim (July) draws thousands of spectators; zero-tolerance enforcement during the event
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research; NPS permit separately required if crossing into Seashore parcels

### Source
- USFWS Chincoteague: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/chincoteague

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit
- Peak season: ⚠️ Heightened MBTA enforcement March–November

## Geographic Boundaries
Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is located in Box Elder County,
Utah, at the northeastern end of Great Salt Lake.
- Total area: ~74,000 acres
- Coordinates: 41.4667° N, 112.2000° W
- Includes Bear River delta wetlands, marshes, open water impoundments,
  and upland grasslands
- Up to 2 million birds during peak spring/fall migration
- Nearest city: Brigham City, UT (~15 miles southeast)

## Regulations
- USFWS Refuge UAS Policy prohibits all UAS without Special Use Permit
- 50 CFR § 27.34 — USFWS motorized equipment prohibition on refuges
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — highest-density
  migratory bird concentration in Intermountain West; any UAS
  disturbance constitutes federal violation
- Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — snowy plover and
  other ESA-listed species use refuge seasonally
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge

## Penalties
- USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34
- MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per disturbance
- ESA Section 9 "take" penalties up to $25,000 civil +
  $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Equipment confiscation by USFWS officers

## Special Permissions
- USFWS Special Use Permit for scientific wildlife research
- MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for bird banding/research
- Seasonal blackout periods during peak migration (March–May, Aug–Nov)
Submit requests to: Bear River MBR Manager,
2155 West Forest Street, Brigham City, UT 84302

## Drone Rules - Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.


### Airspace / Site Context
- Over 250 bird species recorded; up to 4 million individual birds use the refuge annually during migration
- The 74,000-acre refuge is adjacent to the Great Salt Lake; shore-level winds and salt spray create hazardous conditions for UAS
- Ogden-Hinckley Airport (OGD) Class D is ~20 NM south; Salt Lake City International (SLC) Class B outer ring extends toward the refuge






### Key Rules
- LAANC check required for any flight near SLC Class B that reaches the Bear River Delta area
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for research or commercial UAS
- Tundra swans (up to 20,000) stage in November; drone mass-flushing events have caused documented injuries







### Source
- USFWS Bear River: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird

## Authorization Status
- Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
- Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit
- Wildlife Layer: ⚠️ MBTA critical habitat — sandhill cranes, snow geese, whooping cranes

## Geographic Boundaries
Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge is located in Socorro County, New Mexico, along the Rio Grande floodplain, administered by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
- Total area: ~57,331 acres
- Coordinates: 33.7837° N, 106.8938° W
- Nearest city: Socorro, NM (~18 miles north)
- Hosts 10,000–20,000 sandhill cranes and 50,000+ snow geese during peak winter migration
- Critical staging area on the Central Flyway for migratory waterfowl
- Includes riparian cottonwood forest, wetland impoundments, and upland desert
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge

## Regulations
- 50 CFR § 27.34 — Prohibits use of aircraft and drones within National Wildlife Refuges
- USFWS UAS Policy — blanket prohibition on all unmanned aircraft within refuge boundaries
- Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — protects all migratory birds from
  harassment, pursuit, or disturbance; drone overflight constitutes harassment
- Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) — bald eagles winter at refuge
- FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
- Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; Class G at surface

## Penalties
- USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34
- MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per incident
- BGEPA violations: fines up to $100,000 + 2 years imprisonment (second offense)
- FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
- Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations
- Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers

## Special Permissions
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for scientific research or wildlife survey flights
- MBTA scientific banding/research permit required for any operation near active flocks
- Festival of the Cranes (November) — complete no-fly period enforced by refuge staff
Submit requests to: Bosque del Apache NWR Refuge Manager,
1001 Highway 1, San Antonio, NM 87832

## Drone Rules - Bosque del Apache NWR, New Mexico

**Drones are prohibited** on all national wildlife refuges under USFWS Director's Order 210 (2015).


### Airspace / Site Context
- Peak crane/goose staging: November-February; dawn and dusk fly-outs involve tens of thousands of birds in the air simultaneously
- Drone disturbance during crane roosting is a documented cause of mass flushing, resulting in bird collisions and habitat abandonment
- Socorro Municipal (ONM) Class G; Albuquerque International (ABQ) Class C is ~80 NM north






### Key Rules
- USFWS Special Use Permit required for any commercial or research UAS; applications must demonstrate zero disturbance risk
- Launching from Highway 1 (outside refuge boundary) and overflying refuge land is a federal violation
- Whooping crane (CR) occasionally winters here; ESA Section 9 take prohibition adds federal criminal exposure





### Source
- USFWS Bosque del Apache: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bosque-del-apache
- USFWS Director's Order 210: https://www.fws.gov/policy/do210.html

## Drone Rules - Modoc NF, California

**No Wilderness designation**, but sage-grouse lek sites and Modoc NWR (USFWS, adjacent) restrict practical UAS operations seasonally.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Modoc NWR (USFWS) is adjacent to the forest's southern boundary near Alturas; USFWS policy requires no drones over refuge
- Greater sage-grouse leks are active February-May on the Modoc Plateau; drone noise disrupts courtship displays, an ESA concern
- Alturas Airport (KAAT) Class G; nearest controlled airspace is Redding (RDD) ~100 NM southwest

### Key Rules
- February-May: contact USFS Modoc for current sage-grouse lek locations and maintain 0.5-mile buffer during dawn display hours
- Confirm parcel is USFS land (not NWR) before launching near the Goose Lake Basin
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work

### Source
- USFS Modoc: https://www.fs.usda.gov/modoc

## Drone Rules - Six Rivers NF, California

**Siskiyou Wilderness (153,000 acres, shared with Klamath NF)** bans drones; spotted owl and Pacific fisher critical habitat adds ESA-layer restrictions.

### Airspace / Site Context
- The Siskiyou Wilderness is so remote that search-and-rescue for downed drones or injured operators can take 2-3 days
- Arcata/Eureka Airport (ACV) Class D is ~40 NM west; Crescent City (CEC) Class D is ~30 NM northwest
- Pacific Coast fog creates VFR-marginal conditions most mornings and evenings -- drone cameras need fog filters

### Key Rules
- Northern spotted owl nesting surveys are conducted March-August; drones disturb acoustic surveys and are actively restricted
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations
- Carry offline topo maps and emergency beacon; cell service is absent through most of the forest

### Source
- USFS Six Rivers: https://www.fs.usda.gov/srnf

## Drone Rules - Plumas NF, California

**No large Wilderness designation**, but Plumas County is one of California's highest fire-risk counties; TFRs are issued with minimal notice June-October.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Feather River Canyon (up to 4,000 ft deep) creates rotor-wash and wind conditions that make UAS operations technically challenging
- Redding Municipal (RDD) Class D is ~70 NM west; Reno-Tahoe (RNO) Class C is ~60 NM east
- 2021 Dixie Fire (the largest single wildfire in California history at time) burned extensively in Plumas NF

### Key Rules
- Download B4UFLY offline maps before entering Feather River Canyon -- cellular dead zones are extensive
- Do not fly during any active fire TFR -- fire spotters have reported drones to FAA which led to criminal charges in this forest
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography

### Source
- USFS Plumas: https://www.fs.usda.gov/plumas

## Drone Rules - Eldorado NF, California

**Desolation Wilderness (63,475 acres)** bans drones; this is the most-visited wilderness in the US per acre, with active USFS enforcement.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Emerald Bay State Park (CA State Parks, no drone) abuts the Desolation Wilderness boundary -- launches on the lake shore must confirm they are on BLM/USFS land, not state park
- South Lake Tahoe Airport (TVL) Class D: LAANC required for flights over the south Lake Tahoe basin
- Ski lifts at Kirkwood and Sierra-at-Tahoe create aerial obstacles within the forest

### Key Rules
- Desolation Wilderness permits are required for overnight; day hikers should confirm no-drone policy before bringing UAS
- LAANC near TVL for south-shore Lake Tahoe flights
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work in the forest

### Source
- USFS Eldorado: https://www.fs.usda.gov/eldorado

## Drone Rules - Sierra NF, California

**John Muir Wilderness (partial, ~183,000 acres in Sierra NF)** bans drones; Yosemite NP and Kings Canyon NP no-fly begins at the park boundaries.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Shaver Lake and Huntington Lake reservoirs are popular recreation areas within the forest; boats and jet skis create dense surface activity below drone altitude
- Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) Class C outer ring extends toward the western forest boundary
- John Muir Trail crosses through both the forest and adjacent NPS units -- pilots following the trail may inadvertently cross the park boundary

### Key Rules
- LAANC check for FAT Class C for any flight within ~25 NM of Fresno (foothills and Huntington Lake area)
- Wilderness boundary on the John Muir Trail corridor is frequently crossed by pilots who follow the trail as a navigation reference
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work

### Source
- USFS Sierra: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sierra

## Drone Rules - Sequoia NF, California

**Golden Trout Wilderness (303,000 acres) and South Sierra Wilderness** ban drones; Sequoia NP and Kings Canyon NP no-fly begin at the park boundaries.

### Airspace / Site Context
- USFS manages its own giant sequoia groves (e.g., Freeman Creek Grove, Belknap Camp Grove) -- these are within the forest, not the NPS
- Fresno Yosemite International (FAT) Class C outer ring extends toward the western foothill portions of the forest
- Summer wildfire season TFRs are common in the western Sierra foothills; check daily June-September

### Key Rules
- USFS sequoia groves: no USFS Wilderness designation, but USFS encourages no-fly within 0.25 miles of giant sequoia groves
- Confirm GPS position; NPS/USFS boundary runs through the sequoia belt and is invisible on the ground
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography

### Source
- USFS Sequoia: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sequoia

## Drone Rules - Inyo NF, California/Nevada

**John Muir Wilderness (581,000 acres), Ansel Adams Wilderness (228,500 acres)** ban drones; Yosemite and Sequoia NPs border the western forest boundary.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Mammoth Yosemite Airport (MMH) Class D is adjacent to the Inyo NF boundary near Mammoth Lakes -- LAANC required for Mammoth area flights
- Devil's Postpile NM (NPS) is within the forest boundary north of Mammoth; NPS no-fly applies at the monument
- Eastern Sierra launches at 7,000-9,000 ft MSL: density altitude 10,000-13,000 ft DA on warm afternoons

### Key Rules
- LAANC required near MMH for Mammoth Mountain area flights
- Devil's Postpile NM: no drone launch from the ferry trailhead or monument
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work; Inyo County also requires a film permit for commercial operations on county land

### Source
- USFS Inyo: https://www.fs.usda.gov/inyo

## Drone Rules - Lassen NF, California

**Ishi Wilderness (41,000 acres) and Caribou Wilderness (20,000 acres)** ban drones; Lassen Volcanic NP (NPS) no-fly begins at the park boundary on the west and north.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Lassen Park Road (Highway 89) cuts through the NP; pilots near the road must confirm which side of the NPS boundary they are on
- Redding Municipal (RDD) Class D is ~50 NM west; local forest airspace is Class G/E
- Fire season TFRs are common in the Sierra Nevada foothills east of the forest (Plumas/Tehama counties)

### Key Rules
- Download NPS Lassen boundary into drone app -- the park is entirely surrounded by the national forest
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations in the forest
- Volcanic fumaroles near Lassen Peak create thermal updraughts that can destabilize small drones

### Source
- USFS Lassen: https://www.fs.usda.gov/lassen

## Drone Rules - Shasta-Trinity NF, California

**Trinity Alps Wilderness (517,000 acres)** bans drones; Lassen Volcanic NP's no-fly begins at the park boundary, and active volcanic TFRs may affect the Mt. Shasta corridor.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Mount Shasta (14,179 ft MSL) -- summit flights are in Class E at 14,000+ ft; FAA Part 107 waivers required for above-400-ft flights
- Lassen Volcanic NP southern boundary abuts the forest; NPS zero-tolerance no-fly
- Redding Municipal (RDD) Class D is ~40 NM west; Red Bluff (RBL) Class D is ~50 NM southwest

### Key Rules
- Mt. Shasta summit climb: confirm no volcanic TFR (Lassen is the most recently active volcano in the contiguous US north of Shasta)
- Trinity Alps is California's largest Wilderness; enforcement is active during summer
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial photography

### Source
- USFS Shasta-Trinity: https://www.fs.usda.gov/stnf

## Drone Rules - Klamath NF, California/Oregon

**Six Wilderness Areas** (Marble Mountain, Russian, Siskiyou, Red Buttes, Salmon-Trinity Alps, Wooley Creek) ban drones; coho salmon ESA habitat restricts riparian operations.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Marble Mountain Wilderness (241,000 acres) is California's second-largest Wilderness; no motorized equipment
- Coho salmon (threatened) spawn in Klamath River tributaries October-December; drone rotor wash can disturb spawning redds
- Medford Jackson County (MFR) Class C is ~30 NM north; local airspace is Class G/E

### Key Rules
- October-December: avoid flying below 200 ft AGL directly over Klamath River tributaries during coho spawn
- Wilderness boundaries are not always marked in dense forest -- use digital topo
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations

### Source
- USFS Klamath: https://www.fs.usda.gov/klamath

## Drone Rules - San Bernardino NF, California

**San Gorgonio Wilderness (59,293 acres)** bans drones; Big Bear City Airport (L35) Class D sits inside the forest, requiring LAANC for Big Bear Valley flights.

### Airspace / Site Context
- L35 Class D surface area covers all of Big Bear Valley; LAANC required for any flight below 700 ft AGL over Big Bear Lake
- Ontario International (ONT) Class C outer ring extends toward the San Bernardino foothills
- San Gorgonio Mountain (11,503 ft MSL) -- summit flights are in Class E; winter conditions can disable electronics

### Key Rules
- LAANC required near L35 for Big Bear Valley flights; most grid squares authorize 200-400 ft AGL
- San Gorgonio Wilderness boundary begins at the upper mountain flanks -- download GPS boundary
- USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial work; SoCal fire TFRs common May-November

### Source
- USFS San Bernardino: https://www.fs.usda.gov/sbnf