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Drone Rules for Imperial National Wildlife Refuge

Yuma, Arizona (AZ) • Estados Unidos
12812 Wildlife Way, Yuma, AZ 85365, EUA
Lat: 32.9982 • Lng: -114.487
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 29, 2026
Summary
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Drones banned at Imperial NWR under USFWS rules. No flights without Special Use Permit. Straddles AZ-CA border along lower Colorado River. Yuma Class D airspace overlaps southern refuge. Yuma clapper rail and southwestern willow flycatcher ESA critical habitat active.

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ USFWS Special Use Permit required
  • Airspace: ⚠️ Yuma International Airport (YUM) Class D — ATC authorization mandatory for southern refuge sections
  • ESA Layer: ⚠️ Yuma clapper rail + southwestern willow flycatcher critical habitat; ESA Section 9 active
  • Border Layer: ⚠️ US-Mexico border ~15 miles south; CBP operational awareness zone

Geographic Boundaries

Imperial National Wildlife Refuge straddles Yuma County, Arizona, and Imperial County, California, administered by USFWS.

  • Total area: ~25,765 acres
  • Coordinates: 33.1600° N, 114.4700° W
  • Nearest city: Yuma, AZ (~40 miles south); Parker, AZ (~30 miles north)
  • Nearest airport: Yuma International (YUM) ~40 miles south
  • Terrain: lower Colorado River backwaters; Martinez Lake; Ferguson Lake; cattail and bulrush marshes; Sonoran Desert uplands; talus slopes; riparian cottonwood-willow forest
  • Straddles AZ-CA state line — dual state jurisdiction
  • Yuma clapper rail (Rallus obsoletus yumanensis) — federally endangered; marsh habitat = critical habitat
  • Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii extimus) — federally endangered; riparian nesting May–August
  • Colorado River designated Wild & Scenic upstream at Havasu
  • Yuma International Airport (YUM) Class D overlaps south
  • Yuma Proving Ground restricted airspace (R-2507) in proximity
  • US-Mexico border ~15 miles south — CBP awareness required
  • Airspace: Class D (YUM) southern sections; Class G elsewhere

Regulations

  • 50 CFR § 27.34 — Prohibits drones within NWR
  • USFWS UAS Policy — blanket prohibition
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107.41 — Yuma Class D (YUM); ATC authorization mandatory for southern refuge sections
  • Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) Section 9 — Yuma clapper rail marsh critical habitat; drone overflight = take via harassment
  • ESA Section 9 — southwestern willow flycatcher; riparian nesting corridor May–August = maximum ESA sensitivity
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — lower Colorado River migratory corridor; 280+ species documented
  • Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271) — Colorado River upstream Wild & Scenic designation; river corridor protections
  • Quechan Tribe and Fort Mojave cultural interests — Colorado River corridor holds sacred significance
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide

Penalties

  • USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • ESA Section 9 (clapper rail): civil penalties up to $25,000; criminal up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment
  • ESA Section 9 (willow flycatcher): same penalty structure
  • FAA Class D violation: civil penalties up to $27,500/day
  • MBTA criminal penalties: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by USFWS refuge officers

Special Permissions

  • USFWS Special Use Permit required; ESA Section 7 biological assessment mandatory for marsh and riparian corridor ops
  • FAA LAANC authorization required for Yuma Class D sections
  • Willow flycatcher nesting season (May–August): riparian ops prohibited even with valid permit unless ESA Section 7 completed
  • Quechan and Fort Mojave tribal coordination recommended Submit requests to: Imperial NWR Refuge Manager, PO Box 72217, Martinez Lake, AZ 85365 FAA LAANC: https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange
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Rule sources
  • https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS 50 CFR § 27.34, ESA Section 9 Yuma clapper rail and southwestern willow flycatcher critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), FAA Yuma Class D mandatory ATC authorization, MBTA lower Colorado River corridor protections, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271), and Quechan/Fort Mojave tribal interests ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.faa.gov/uas/programs_partnerships/data_exchange — USFWS 50 CFR § 27.34, ESA Section 9 Yuma clapper rail and southwestern willow flycatcher critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), FAA Yuma Class D mandatory ATC authorization, MBTA lower Colorado River corridor protections, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271), and Quechan/Fort Mojave tribal interests ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFWS 50 CFR § 27.34, ESA Section 9 Yuma clapper rail and southwestern willow flycatcher critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), FAA Yuma Class D mandatory ATC authorization, MBTA lower Colorado River corridor protections, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271), and Quechan/Fort Mojave tribal interests ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFWS 50 CFR § 27.34, ESA Section 9 Yuma clapper rail and southwestern willow flycatcher critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), FAA Yuma Class D mandatory ATC authorization, MBTA lower Colorado River corridor protections, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271), and Quechan/Fort Mojave tribal interests ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS 50 CFR § 27.34, ESA Section 9 Yuma clapper rail and southwestern willow flycatcher critical habitat (16 U.S.C. § 1531), FAA Yuma Class D mandatory ATC authorization, MBTA lower Colorado River corridor protections, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271), and Quechan/Fort Mojave tribal interests ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
Parent Rule Pages