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Drone Rules for Klamath National Forest & Butte Valley National Grassland

Yreka, California (CA) • United States
Yreka, CA 96097, USA
Lat: 41.5878 • Lng: -123.099
Ground Not fully verified Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFS Klamath NF contains six Wilderness Areas and critical coho salmon habitat (ESA threatened). The Marble Mountain Wilderness is one of the largest in California.

Drone Rules - Klamath NF, California/Oregon

Six Wilderness Areas (Marble Mountain, Russian, Siskiyou, Red Buttes, Salmon-Trinity Alps, Wooley Creek) ban drones; coho salmon ESA habitat restricts riparian operations.

Airspace / Site Context

  • Marble Mountain Wilderness (241,000 acres) is California's second-largest Wilderness; no motorized equipment
  • Coho salmon (threatened) spawn in Klamath River tributaries October-December; drone rotor wash can disturb spawning redds
  • Medford Jackson County (MFR) Class C is ~30 NM north; local airspace is Class G/E

Key Rules

  • October-December: avoid flying below 200 ft AGL directly over Klamath River tributaries during coho spawn
  • Wilderness boundaries are not always marked in dense forest -- use digital topo
  • USFS Special Use Permit required for commercial operations

Source

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