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Drone Rules for Aguirre Spring Campground

White Sands, New Mexico (nm) • United States
Aguirre Springs Rd, Las Cruces, NM 88011, USA
Lat: 32.37 • Lng: -106.561
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 27, 2026
Summary
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Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Aguirre Spring Recreation Area under BLM regulations, controlled by the Bureau of Land Management — Doña Ana Field Office. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without a BLM Special Recreation Permit. The site sits within the Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks Nation

Authorization Status

  • Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned
  • Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without BLM Special Recreation Permit
  • Military Overlay: ⚠️ WSMR R-5107 restricted airspace on three sides — any drift beyond BLM boundary constitutes federal airspace violation
  • Monument Layer: ⚠️ Within Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument (Presidential Proclamation 9131, May 21, 2014)

Geographic Boundaries

Aguirre Spring Recreation Area is located in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, administered by the BLM Las Cruces District — Doña Ana Field Office.

  • Total area: ~82 acres (campground/recreation area); surrounded by ~496,330-acre Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument
  • Coordinates: 32.3619° N, 106.5736° W
  • Nearest city: Las Cruces, NM (~20 miles west)
  • Terrain: granite spires of the Organ Mountains, alluvial fans, Chihuahuan Desert scrub; Organ Needle summit at 8,900 ft MSL visible from site
  • White Sands Missile Range R-5107 restricted areas begin approximately 1–3 miles east and south of the recreation area boundary
  • Active missile test range — airspace closures and NOTAMs issued without advance public notice
  • High-density-altitude environment: base elevation ~5,640 ft MSL
  • Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G; R-5107 immediately adjacent

Regulations

  • BLM UAS Policy IM 2015-122 prohibits unauthorized drone operations on BLM lands
  • 43 CFR § 8360.0-7 — Aircraft use restrictions on BLM-managed lands
  • Organ Mountains–Desert Peaks National Monument Proclamation 9131 (2014) — monument management plan restricts all motorized recreational use
  • 14 CFR § 73.3 — Military restricted airspace R-5107 (White Sands Missile Range); no incursion permitted under any circumstances
  • Archaeological Resources Protection Act (16 U.S.C. § 470aa) — prehistoric Apache and Mogollon cultural sites throughout monument
  • Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — peregrine falcon and zone-tailed hawk nesting on Organ Mountain granite faces
  • FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide
  • Active NOTAMs from WSMR may extend temporary flight restrictions over adjacent BLM lands without advance notice

Penalties

  • BLM fines up to $1,000 per violation under 43 CFR § 8360.0-7
  • R-5107 incursion: federal criminal charges under 49 U.S.C. § 46307 + potential DoD enforcement action; no civilian exemptions
  • ARPA violations: fines up to $20,000 + 2 years imprisonment
  • MBTA violations: fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment
  • FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day
  • Criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. § 32 for willful violations
  • Equipment confiscation by BLM rangers or military police

Special Permissions

  • BLM Special Recreation Permit required; applicant must demonstrate awareness of R-5107 boundary proximity in permit application
  • Mandatory NOTAM check before every flight: https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.jsp
  • DoD coordination with White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs required for any operation within 3 miles of eastern monument boundary
  • ARPA federal permit required for cultural resource documentation Submit requests to: BLM Doña Ana Field Office, 1800 Marquess Street, Las Cruces, NM 88005 WSMR Public Affairs: White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs Office, Bldg 100, White Sands Missile Range, NM 88002
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Rule sources
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8360.0-7, Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument Proclamation 9131, FAA military restricted airspace R-5107 under 14 CFR § 73.3 (White Sands Missile Range), ARPA Apache and Mogollon cultural site protections, and MBTA raptor nesting protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-E/part-73 — BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8360.0-7, Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument Proclamation 9131, FAA military restricted airspace R-5107 under 14 CFR § 73.3 (White Sands Missile Range), ARPA Apache and Mogollon cultural site protections, and MBTA raptor nesting protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1510/arpa.htm — BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8360.0-7, Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument Proclamation 9131, FAA military restricted airspace R-5107 under 14 CFR § 73.3 (White Sands Missile Range), ARPA Apache and Mogollon cultural site protections, and MBTA raptor nesting protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8360.0-7, Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument Proclamation 9131, FAA military restricted airspace R-5107 under 14 CFR § 73.3 (White Sands Missile Range), ARPA Apache and Mogollon cultural site protections, and MBTA raptor nesting protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://tfr.faa.gov/tfr2/list.jsp — BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8360.0-7, Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument Proclamation 9131, FAA military restricted airspace R-5107 under 14 CFR § 73.3 (White Sands Missile Range), ARPA Apache and Mogollon cultural site protections, and MBTA raptor nesting protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
  • https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-43/chapter-II/part-8360 — BLM regulations under 43 CFR § 8360.0-7, Organ Mountains — Desert Peaks National Monument Proclamation 9131, FAA military restricted airspace R-5107 under 14 CFR § 73.3 (White Sands Missile Range), ARPA Apache and Mogollon cultural site protections, and MBTA raptor nesting protections ban all unauthorized drone operations, supported by FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
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