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Drone Rules for Effigy Mounds National Monument

Harpers Ferry, Iowa (IA) • United States
151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146, USA
Lat: 43.0888 • Lng: -91.1856
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 28, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Effigy Mounds National Monument under NPS regulations, controlled by the National Park Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit Special Use Permit from the park superintendent. Protecting over 200 prehistoric Native American burial and

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit
  • NHPA: ⚠️ National Historic Landmark — strictest heritage protections
  • Tribal: ⚠️ Sacred Woodland culture sites — tribal consultation required

Geographic Boundaries

Effigy Mounds National Monument is located in Allamakee and Clayton Counties, Iowa, along the Mississippi River.

  • Total area: ~2,526 acres
  • Coordinates: 43.0855° N, 91.1874° W
  • Includes Great Bear Mound, Marching Bears group (10 bear effigies), Little Bear Mound, and 206 known prehistoric mounds
  • Situated on bluffs above the Upper Mississippi River
  • Nearest city: Marquette, IA (~3 miles south)

Regulations

  • NPS Management Policies § 8.2.2 prohibits UAS in all NPS units
  • 36 CFR § 1.5 — Superintendent's closure authority
  • 36 CFR § 2.17(a)(3) — Prohibits air delivery/retrieval within park
  • National Historic Preservation Act (54 U.S.C. § 300101) — National Historic Landmark; prehistoric mound protections
  • Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — prohibits disturbance of archaeological resources
  • Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (25 U.S.C. § 3001) — NAGPRA protects burial mounds and associated cultural items from any disturbance
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over monument

Penalties

  • NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation
  • ARPA: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
  • NAGPRA violations: fines up to $100,000 + criminal prosecution for burial mound disturbance
  • NHPA penalties for National Historic Landmark disturbance
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Equipment confiscation by park rangers

Special Permissions

  • NPS Special Use Permit required
  • Archaeological research: NPS + SHPO + ARPA + tribal consultation
  • NAGPRA: mandatory consultation with 20+ affiliated tribes before any research near burial mound areas Submit requests to: Effigy Mounds NM Superintendent, 151 IA-76, Harpers Ferry, IA 52146
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