Drone Rules for Grimwith Reservoir

Landowner Policy & Site Rules

• Drone operations—including launching, landing, or operating on the ground—are strictly prohibited across the Grimwith Reservoir site without formal authorization.
• The reservoir, surrounding pathways, and visitor car parks are private property owned and managed by Yorkshire Water, who enforces a zero-tolerance policy for recreational drone activities.
• Operating a drone from the ground here without explicit prior written consent from the water utility company constitutes trespassing on private operational land.

Strategic Priority & Infrastructure

• Grimwith Reservoir is a Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) asset and the largest reservoir managed by Yorkshire Water, serving as a primary water storage facility for the region.
• Located within the Yorkshire Dales National Park, the area is home to highly sensitive moorland and wetland ecological habitats that support a diverse population of breeding birds and wildfowl.
• Strict ground regulations are enforced to safeguard critical utility infrastructure from security breaches and prevent acoustic or visual disturbance to protected avian species.

Operational Security Protocols

• Active land monitoring and routine perimeter checks are carried out by Yorkshire Water site teams, estate wardens, and local water sports club personnel (e.g., Grimwith Sailing Club).
• Any unauthorized drone operators identified operating from the ground will be approached, instructed to safely land their aircraft immediately, and required to leave the estate property.
• Safety infractions or persistent non-compliance over public access routes or club facilities will be escalated directly to local rural police authorities.

Permissions & Exceptions

• Ground permissions are entirely unavailable for all recreational, amateur, and hobbyist drone flyers.
• Exceptions are strictly reserved for commercial utility surveys, essential structural dam inspections, or authorized environmental research projects.
• Professional pilots requiring access must contact Yorkshire Water's asset management office directly well in advance to obtain formal written permission, submit a detailed flight plan, and provide proof of a valid CAA operational authorization alongside commercial public liability insurance.