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Drone Rules for Assabet River National Wildlife Refuge

Sudbury, Massachusetts (MA) • United States
680 Hudson Rd, Sudbury, MA 01776, USA
Lat: 42.4079 • Lng: -71.4715
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFWS prohibits drones on Assabet River NWR. The former Sudbury Military Reservation is converting to wildlife habitat; unexploded ordnance (UXO) areas are present and drone operations could disturb remediation work.

Drone Rules - Assabet River NWR, Massachusetts

Drones are prohibited under USFWS Director's Order 210; ongoing UXO remediation creates additional federal safety restrictions on certain impacted parcels.

Airspace / Site Context

  • Former Fort Devens/Sudbury Military Reservation; Army Corps of Engineers UXO remediation is ongoing in the western parcels
  • Worcester Regional (ORH) Class D is ~15 NM west; Boston Logan (BOS) Class B outer ring may extend toward the refuge in some altitude shells
  • Wood turtle (state threatened) and blanding's turtle (state threatened) are the target species for refuge management

Key Rules

  • UXO remediation areas: drone operations near active remediation zones risk disturbing equipment or workers; contact Army Corps UXO program before any flight near marked zones
  • LAANC check for ORH Class D before flights in Middlesex County
  • USFWS Special Use Permit required; turtle research permits go to USFWS Northeast Region

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