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Drone Rules for Agua Fria National Monument

Black Canyon City, Arizona (AZ) • Estados Unidos
Black Canyon City, AZ 85324, EUA
Lat: 34.2228 • Lng: -112.093
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 29, 2026
Summary
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Drones banned at Agua Fria NM under BLM rules. No flights without BLM Special Recreation Permit and FAA Class B (PHX) ATC authorization. Contains 450+ Sinagua archaeological sites on Perry Mesa. Dual tribal affiliation: Yavapai-Apache Nation and Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ Absolutely prohibited — tribal sovereignty primary
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ San Carlos Apache Tribe authorization required; FAA Part 107 does not confer rights over tribal airspace
  • Tribal Sovereignty: ⚠️ ABSOLUTE — San Carlos Apache Tribe exercises full sovereign authority over reservation airspace
  • ESA Layer: ⚠️ Apache trout critical habitat in upper Gila River tributaries; ESA Section 9 active
  • Water Layer: ⚠️ San Carlos Lake (Coolidge Dam) — major Colorado River basin water storage; federal reclamation infrastructure

Geographic Boundaries

San Carlos Apache Reservation is located in Graham, Gila, Pinal, and Maricopa Counties, Arizona, administered by the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

  • Total area: ~1,853,841 acres (~2,897 square miles)
  • Coordinates: 33.3536° N, 110.4440° W (San Carlos, tribal capital)
  • Nearest city: Globe, AZ (~25 miles northwest); Safford, AZ (~40 miles east)
  • Terrain: Sonoran and Chihuahuan Desert transition; Gila Mountains; Point of Pines; San Carlos Lake (Coolidge Dam reservoir); Gila River; Black River; upper Salt River drainage
  • San Carlos Lake — largest lake in Arizona; formed by Coolidge Dam (1928, National Historic Landmark); tribal fishing permit required; major recreational destination
  • Apache trout (Oncorhynchus apache) — federally threatened; upper Gila River tributaries on reservation = critical habitat
  • Adjacent to White Mountain Apache Reservation to the north
  • Globe/Miami copper mining district on western boundary — EPA Superfund proximity
  • Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G

Regulations

  • San Carlos Apache Tribal Code — sovereign authority over all reservation lands and airspace
  • Federal Indian Law (25 U.S.C. § 177) — tribal sovereignty doctrine
  • Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) Section 9 — Apache trout critical habitat in upper Gila tributaries; drone disturbance of stream habitat = potential take
  • Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — extensive prehistoric Salado, Hohokam, and Apache cultural sites throughout reservation; tribal THPO exercises authority
  • American Indian Religious Freedom Act (42 U.S.C. § 1996) — sacred springs, mountains, and ceremonial sites throughout San Carlos Apache traditional homeland
  • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001) — ancestral burial sites throughout
  • San Carlos Apache Game and Fish regulations — tribal wildlife harassment prohibition; game wardens patrol reservation
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — zone-tailed hawk; common black hawk; bald eagle winter presence at San Carlos Lake
  • Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 668) — bald eagle documented at San Carlos Lake winter season
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

Penalties

  • San Carlos Apache tribal court: equipment confiscation; fines; criminal charges; permanent reservation ban; game warden enforcement active
  • ESA Section 9 (Apache trout): civil penalties up to $25,000; criminal penalties up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
  • ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
  • NAGPRA violations: federal criminal prosecution
  • BGEPA violations: fines up to $100,000 + 2 years (second offense)
  • MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations

Special Permissions

  • San Carlos Apache Tribe Historic Preservation Office is the primary authorization pathway
  • ESA Section 7 biological assessment required for Apache trout tributary operations — USFWS coordination mandatory
  • San Carlos Lake: tribal fishing permit required for any water-surface adjacent operations; separate tribal recreation department authorization needed
  • Film and research: tribal permit required; footage subject to tribal review Submit requests to: San Carlos Apache Tribe Historic Preservation Office, PO Box 0, San Carlos, AZ 85550 San Carlos Apache Tribe Recreation Department: PO Box 97, San Carlos, AZ 85550
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Rule sources
  • https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — San Carlos Apache tribal sovereignty as primary jurisdiction, ESA Section 9 Apache trout upper Gila tributary critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), ARPA Salado/Hohokam/Apache site protections, AIRFA sacred site protections, NAGPRA ancestral remains, BGEPA San Carlos Lake winter eagle protections, and tribal game warden active enforcement ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — San Carlos Apache tribal sovereignty as primary jurisdiction, ESA Section 9 Apache trout upper Gila tributary critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), ARPA Salado/Hohokam/Apache site protections, AIRFA sacred site protections, NAGPRA ancestral remains, BGEPA San Carlos Lake winter eagle protections, and tribal game warden active enforcement ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1510/arpa.htm — San Carlos Apache tribal sovereignty as primary jurisdiction, ESA Section 9 Apache trout upper Gila tributary critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), ARPA Salado/Hohokam/Apache site protections, AIRFA sacred site protections, NAGPRA ancestral remains, BGEPA San Carlos Lake winter eagle protections, and tribal game warden active enforcement ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — San Carlos Apache tribal sovereignty as primary jurisdiction, ESA Section 9 Apache trout upper Gila tributary critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), ARPA Salado/Hohokam/Apache site protections, AIRFA sacred site protections, NAGPRA ancestral remains, BGEPA San Carlos Lake winter eagle protections, and tribal game warden active enforcement ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
Parent Rule Pages