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Drone Rules for DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge and Museum
Missouri Valley, Iowa (IA)
• United States
1434 316th Ln, Missouri Valley, IA 51555, USA
Lat: 41.5409 • Lng: -96.0309
Rules Edit History: DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge and Museum
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May 30, 2026 8:09 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for DeSoto NWR with 600,000-snow-goose October staging, OMA Class C proximity, and Missouri River barge interference context.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge has been approved. This aligns with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service regulations prohibiting drone operations within national wildlife refuges. The added context regarding the refuge's significance as a staging area for up to 600,000 snow geese during October-November, proximity to Omaha's Class C airspace, and potential interference with Missouri River barge traffic 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 DeSoto NWR. The oxbow lake refuge on the Missouri River hosts one of the largest snow goose concentrations in the interior US during fall migration. |
| Mapped shapes | — | ce46dad1-a3d2-4051-b7e0-57583052d143 |
Before
After
## Drone Rules - DeSoto NWR, Iowa/Nebraska **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. ### Airspace / Site Context - Up to 600,000 snow geese and 100,000 lesser scaup stage on DeSoto Lake and the Missouri River backwaters in October-November - Eppley Airfield (OMA) Class C is ~30 NM south; Council Bluffs Municipal (CBF) Class D is ~30 NM south - Missouri River corridor has active barge traffic; drone/barge radio interference is documented at the river crossing ### Key Rules - LAANC check for OMA Class C outer ring for flights in the southern portion of the refuge - Peak snow goose staging (October-November): one of the busiest drone-citation locations in the USFWS Midwest Region - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research applications go to USFWS DeSoto manager ### Source - USFWS DeSoto: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/desoto
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+ ## Drone Rules - DeSoto NWR, Iowa/Nebraska + + **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. + + ### Airspace / Site Context + - Up to 600,000 snow geese and 100,000 lesser scaup stage on DeSoto Lake and the Missouri River backwaters in October-November + - Eppley Airfield (OMA) Class C is ~30 NM south; Council Bluffs Municipal (CBF) Class D is ~30 NM south + - Missouri River corridor has active barge traffic; drone/barge radio interference is documented at the river crossing + + ### Key Rules + - LAANC check for OMA Class C outer ring for flights in the southern portion of the refuge + - Peak snow goose staging (October-November): one of the busiest drone-citation locations in the USFWS Midwest Region + - USFWS Special Use Permit required; research applications go to USFWS DeSoto manager + + ### Source + - USFWS DeSoto: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/desoto +