Drone Rules for Floresta Nacional Apache-Sitgreaves

Authorization Status

• Recreational: ❌ Banned in wilderness and Special Mgmt Areas
• Commercial (Part 107): ❌ USFS Special Use Permit required
• Tribal Boundary Layer: ⚠️ Mount Baldy summit (11,420 ft) is White Mountain Apache tribal land; USFS trail ends at tribal boundary 0.25 miles from summit
• ESA Layer: ⚠️ Apache trout + Mexican spotted owl critical habitat
• Wilderness Layer: ⚠️ Mount Baldy Wilderness ~7,079 acres + Bear Wallow Wilderness ~11,080 acres

Geographic Boundaries

Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest is located in Navajo, Apache, and Greenlee Counties, Arizona, administered by USFS.

• Total area: ~2,003,421 acres (combined forests)
• Coordinates: 33.9000° N, 109.5000° W
• Nearest city: Show Low, AZ (~40 miles northwest); Springerville, AZ (~20 miles east)
• Terrain: White Mountains; Mount Baldy (11,420 ft MSL — highest point in AZ outside San Francisco Peaks; summit on White Mountain Apache Reservation); Black River; Blue Range Primitive Area; Mogollon Rim
• Mount Baldy Wilderness: USFS trail ends 0.25 miles from summit; final 0.25 miles is White Mountain Apache tribal land — tribal permit required to reach summit
• Apache trout (Oncorhynchus apache) — federally threatened; native to White Mountain streams; Black River and tributaries = primary critical habitat
• Mexican gray wolf (Canis lupus baileyi) — federally endangered; Blue Range Wolf Recovery Area covers eastern forest
• Mexican spotted owl — federally threatened; canyon nesting
• White Mountain Apache Reservation immediately adjacent
• Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G

Regulations

• 36 CFR § 261.10 — unauthorized aircraft prohibited
• 36 CFR § 251.50 — Special Use authorization
• Wilderness Act (16 U.S.C. § 1131) — Mount Baldy (~7,079 ac) and Bear Wallow (~11,080 ac) wilderness units
• White Mountain Apache Tribal Code — Mount Baldy summit tribal land; tribal permit required for summit access
• Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Apache trout critical habitat; Mexican gray wolf Blue Range Recovery Area (drone disturbance of wolf packs = ESA Section 9 take); Mexican spotted owl nesting zones
• Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — Mogollon and Apache cultural sites throughout forest
• Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — boreal owl; northern goshawk; northern pygmy-owl nesting
• FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

Penalties

• USFS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 36 CFR § 261.10
• Wilderness Act: fines up to $5,000 + 6 months
• ESA Section 9 (Apache trout): civil up to $25,000; criminal up to $50,000 + 1 year
• ESA Section 9 (Mexican wolf): civil up to $25,000; criminal up to $50,000 + 1 year
• White Mountain Apache tribal court penalties for summit tribal land violations
• ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years
• MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months
• Equipment confiscation by USFS rangers

Special Permissions

• USFS Special Use Permit required
• White Mountain Apache Tribe authorization required for any operation within 0.5 miles of Mount Baldy summit
• ESA Section 7 required for Apache trout, wolf, and spotted owl habitat zones
• Mexican gray wolf recovery zone (Blue Range): USFWS Mexican Wolf Recovery Team coordination required Submit requests to: Apache-Sitgreaves NF Supervisor, 30 S Chiricahua Drive, Springerville, AZ 85938 White Mountain Apache THPO: PO Box 700, Whiteriver, AZ 85941