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Drone Rules for Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Tulelake, California (CA)
• United States
4009 Hill Rd, Tulelake, CA 96134, USA
Lat: 41.9387 • Lng: -121.565
Rules Edit History: Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge
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Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 7:41 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Tule Lake NWR with 1-million-waterfowl Pacific Flyway peak, 1,000-bald-eagle winter, and Bald Eagle Protection Act fine context.
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Approved
Confidence: 0.75
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting drone operations within the refuge. The added context enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | USFWS prohibits drones on Tule Lake NWR. The Klamath Basin refuges host the largest concentration of migratory waterfowl on the Pacific Flyway -- up to 1 million ducks and geese in October. |
| Mapped shapes | — | 5c3cdbba-43d7-472d-a8c5-742863931b5d |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - Tule Lake NWR, California **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; adjacent Lower Klamath NWR (Oregon/California) is under the same blanket prohibition. ### Airspace / Site Context - Klamath Basin peak migration (October): 500,000 to 1 million waterfowl creates the highest bird density in the Western Hemisphere in a finite airspace column - Bald eagles congregate to feed on crippled ducks; up to 1,000 bald eagles winter in the basin -- Bald Eagle Protection Act applies - Klamath Falls Airport (LMT) Class D is ~30 NM north; Medford (MFR) Class C is ~60 NM west ### Key Rules - October waterfowl migration: drone launch near the basin during peak would create immediate multi-species disturbance event - The Klamath Basin NWR Complex (six refuges) is managed as a unit; a single USFWS Special Use Permit covers all six but requires regional office review - Bald Eagle Protection Act violation carries up to $10,000 fine per bird disturbed ### Source - USFWS Klamath Basin: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tule-lake
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+ ## Drone Rules - Tule Lake NWR, California + + **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210; adjacent Lower Klamath NWR (Oregon/California) is under the same blanket prohibition. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Klamath Basin peak migration (October): 500,000 to 1 million waterfowl creates the highest bird density in the Western Hemisphere in a finite airspace column + - Bald eagles congregate to feed on crippled ducks; up to 1,000 bald eagles winter in the basin -- Bald Eagle Protection Act applies + - Klamath Falls Airport (LMT) Class D is ~30 NM north; Medford (MFR) Class C is ~60 NM west + + ### Key Rules + - October waterfowl migration: drone launch near the basin during peak would create immediate multi-species disturbance event + - The Klamath Basin NWR Complex (six refuges) is managed as a unit; a single USFWS Special Use Permit covers all six but requires regional office review + - Bald Eagle Protection Act violation carries up to $10,000 fine per bird disturbed + + ### Source + - USFWS Klamath Basin: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/tule-lake +