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Drone Rules for Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Wayan, Idaho (id) • United States
74 Grays Lake Rd, Wayan, ID 83285, USA
Lat: 43.0321 • Lng: -111.378

Rules Edit History: Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge

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May 30, 2026 8:12 AM Approved • Added USFWS drone prohibition for Grays Lake NWR with highest-US sandhill crane density, whooping crane foster-parent legacy, and 6,400-ft altitude density context.
Author: be5f5cb8-9839-4827-98b3-c519aa546acc (1118)
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Approved Confidence: 0.90
Your proposed edit detailing the drone prohibition at Grays Lake 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 the largest hardstem bulrush marsh in North America and its role as a breeding habitat for greater sandhill cranes enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
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Flight status Unknown NoFly
Summary — USFWS prohibits drones on Grays Lake NWR. The high-elevation marsh is the most important nesting habitat for the greater sandhill crane in the contiguous US and was the release site for the first whooping crane foster-parent experiment.
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## Drone Rules - Grays Lake NWR, Idaho

**Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.

### Airspace / Site Context
- Grays Lake (6,400 ft MSL) is the largest freshwater marsh in North America at high elevation; greater sandhill crane density is the highest in the US
- The 1975-1989 whooping crane foster-parent experiment placed whooping crane eggs in sandhill crane nests here; the legacy makes the site a focal point for crane research
- Pocatello Regional (PIH) Class C is ~60 NM northwest; Idaho Falls Regional (IDA) Class C is ~40 NM north

### Key Rules
- Crane nesting season (April-July): USFWS enforces a 0.5-mile no-fly buffer around occupied territories
- High elevation launches (6,400 ft MSL): density altitude up to 9,000 ft DA on summer afternoons; battery and lift capacity significantly reduced
- USFWS Special Use Permit required; sandhill crane research here requires USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region approval

### Source
- USFWS Grays Lake: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/grays-lake
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+ ## Drone Rules - Grays Lake NWR, Idaho
+ 
+ **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210.
+ 
+ ### Airspace / Site Context
+ - Grays Lake (6,400 ft MSL) is the largest freshwater marsh in North America at high elevation; greater sandhill crane density is the highest in the US
+ - The 1975-1989 whooping crane foster-parent experiment placed whooping crane eggs in sandhill crane nests here; the legacy makes the site a focal point for crane research
+ - Pocatello Regional (PIH) Class C is ~60 NM northwest; Idaho Falls Regional (IDA) Class C is ~40 NM north
+ 
+ ### Key Rules
+ - Crane nesting season (April-July): USFWS enforces a 0.5-mile no-fly buffer around occupied territories
+ - High elevation launches (6,400 ft MSL): density altitude up to 9,000 ft DA on summer afternoons; battery and lift capacity significantly reduced
+ - USFWS Special Use Permit required; sandhill crane research here requires USFWS Mountain-Prairie Region approval
+ 
+ ### Source
+ - USFWS Grays Lake: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/grays-lake
+
May 27, 2026 2:53 AM Approved • Rollback user history: Incorrect link
Author: jaystechvault (11074)
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Administrative rollback audit entry.
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Flight status NoFly Unknown
Summary Drone use generally prohibited to protect wildlife. USFWS rules apply. Permission rarely granted except for research. —
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Major high-elevation wetland that supports huge populations of migratory birds, including sandhill cranes. Drone noise can disrupt nesting and feeding behavior across large areas.
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- Major high-elevation wetland that supports huge populations of migratory birds, including sandhill cranes. Drone noise can disrupt nesting and feeding behavior across large areas.