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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
Rules Edit History: Imperial National Wildlife Refuge
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May 29, 2026 1:01 AM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for Imperial NWR based on USFWS 50 CFR § 27.34, ESA Section 9 Yuma clapper rail and willow flycatcher, FAA Yuma Class D mandatory authorization, MBTA 280+ species corridor, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act, dual AZ-CA jurisdiction, Quechan/Fort Mojave tribal interests, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
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Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit to restrict drone operations at Imperial National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. The information is accurate and well-supported by official sources, and the outline appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
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.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | 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. |
| Mapped shapes | ae7a3c1e-5c5b-4457-b9c9-53851c1b3c6a | 9daf0587-e8c2-43ea-a49c-12ad047da068 |
Before
After
## 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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+ ## 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