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Drone Rules for 404 Watercress Rd
Van Buren, Missouri (MO)
• Estados Unidos
404 Watercress Rd, Van Buren, MO 63965, EUA
Lat: 37.0008 • Lng: -91.0162
Rules Edit History: 404 Watercress Rd
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Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 29, 2026 12:55 AM
Approved
• Added drone restriction profile for Ozark National Scenic Riverways based on NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05, 36 CFR § 1.5, Wild & Scenic Rivers Act America's first national scenic riverway 1964, ESA Section 9 Ozark Hellbender, and Cave Resources Protection Act 16 U.S.C. § 4301.
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Approved
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Your proposed edit to restrict drone operations at Ozark National Scenic Riverways has been approved. The information is accurate and well-supported by official sources, and the outline appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
Sources
- https://www.nps.gov/ozar/planyourvisit/unmanned-aircraft.htm — NPS Policy Memorandum 14-05 and 36 CFR § 1.5 prohibit all drone operations within Ozark National Scenic Riverways. Wild & Scenic Rivers Act 1964 designation, ESA Ozark Hellbender critical habitat, and Cave Resources Protection Act spring cave systems add multi-layer federal restrictions.
Changed fields
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Ozark National Scenic Riverways 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. America's first national scenic riverway protects the Curre |
Before
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit - WSR: ⚠️ America's first national scenic riverway (1964) - ESA: ⚠️ Ozark Hellbender — critically endangered salamander ## Geographic Boundaries Ozark National Scenic Riverways is located in Carter, Shannon, Dent, and Texas Counties, Missouri, in the Ozark Highlands. - Total area: ~80,785 acres - River length: ~134 miles (Current + Jacks Fork Rivers) - Coordinates: 37.0000° N, 91.2500° W - Includes Big Spring (one of largest springs in U.S. — 286 million gallons/day), Alley Spring, Round Spring, and Pulltite Spring - Extensive cave systems throughout park boundary - Nearest city: Van Buren, MO (headquarters) ## 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 - Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271) — America's first national scenic riverway designation (1964) - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Ozark Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) critically endangered; UAS river disturbance constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment - Cave Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 4301) — extensive Ozark cave systems throughout park boundaries - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over riverways ## Penalties - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation - WSR Act civil penalties for river corridor disturbance - ESA Section 9 Hellbender: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment - CRPA cave violations: fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by park rangers ## Special Permissions - NPS Special Use Permit required - Hellbender research: ESA Section 10 ITP + USFWS coordination - Cave research: CRPA federal authorization required - Spring ecosystem research subject to additional NPS review Submit requests to: Ozark NSR Superintendent, 404 Watercress Drive, Van Buren, MO 63965
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+ ## Authorization Status + - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without NPS Special Use Permit + - WSR: ⚠️ America's first national scenic riverway (1964) + - ESA: ⚠️ Ozark Hellbender — critically endangered salamander + + ## Geographic Boundaries + Ozark National Scenic Riverways is located in Carter, Shannon, + Dent, and Texas Counties, Missouri, in the Ozark Highlands. + - Total area: ~80,785 acres + - River length: ~134 miles (Current + Jacks Fork Rivers) + - Coordinates: 37.0000° N, 91.2500° W + - Includes Big Spring (one of largest springs in U.S. — 286 million + gallons/day), Alley Spring, Round Spring, and Pulltite Spring + - Extensive cave systems throughout park boundary + - Nearest city: Van Buren, MO (headquarters) + + ## 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 + - Wild and Scenic Rivers Act (16 U.S.C. § 1271) — America's first + national scenic riverway designation (1964) + - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — Ozark Hellbender + (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) critically endangered; + UAS river disturbance constitutes ESA Section 9 harassment + - Cave Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 4301) — extensive + Ozark cave systems throughout park boundaries + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class G; no controlled airspace over riverways + + ## Penalties + - NPS fines up to $5,000 per violation + - WSR Act civil penalties for river corridor disturbance + - ESA Section 9 Hellbender: up to $50,000 + 1 year imprisonment + - CRPA cave violations: fines up to $10,000 + imprisonment + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Equipment confiscation by park rangers + + ## Special Permissions + - NPS Special Use Permit required + - Hellbender research: ESA Section 10 ITP + USFWS coordination + - Cave research: CRPA federal authorization required + - Spring ecosystem research subject to additional NPS review + Submit requests to: Ozark NSR Superintendent, + 404 Watercress Drive, Van Buren, MO 63965