← Back to Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Center
Drone Rules for Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Center
Brigham City, Utah (ut)
• United States
2155 W Forest St, Brigham City, UT 84302, USA
Lat: 41.5077 • Lng: -112.069
Rules Edit History: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge Center
Showing changes between revisions.
Mapped shape change
Old outline is gray. New outline is blue.
May 30, 2026 7:13 AM
Approved
• Added USFWS drone prohibition for Bear River MBR with 4-million-bird annual use, tundra swan staging, and SLC Class B proximity context.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit detailing drone regulations at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, including the USFWS Director's Order 210 prohibition, the refuge's significance as a shorebird and waterfowl staging area, and the impact of drone noise on marsh-nesting species, has been approved. This aligns with USFWS regulations prohibiting drone operations within the refuge. The added context enhances understanding of the area's drone flight considerations. The outline has been updated to accurately represent the restricted area.
Sources
- https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
- https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-17 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Summary | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge under USFWS regulations, controlled by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit USFWS Special Use Permit. The refuge is one of the most important wetland habitats in the Western | USFWS Director's Order 210 prohibits drones on all refuges. Bear River is one of the most important shorebird and waterfowl staging areas in the Western Hemisphere; drone noise disrupts marsh-nesting species. |
| Mapped shapes | 2eab82ef-3497-4ec3-9ae7-96053ee52314 | e21277f6-e454-47a3-b68b-518f84a4cf04 |
Before
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit - Peak season: ⚠️ Heightened MBTA enforcement March–November ## Geographic Boundaries Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is located in Box Elder County, Utah, at the northeastern end of Great Salt Lake. - Total area: ~74,000 acres - Coordinates: 41.4667° N, 112.2000° W - Includes Bear River delta wetlands, marshes, open water impoundments, and upland grasslands - Up to 2 million birds during peak spring/fall migration - Nearest city: Brigham City, UT (~15 miles southeast) ## Regulations - USFWS Refuge UAS Policy prohibits all UAS without Special Use Permit - 50 CFR § 27.34 — USFWS motorized equipment prohibition on refuges - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — highest-density migratory bird concentration in Intermountain West; any UAS disturbance constitutes federal violation - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — snowy plover and other ESA-listed species use refuge seasonally - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge ## Penalties - USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34 - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per disturbance - ESA Section 9 "take" penalties up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by USFWS officers ## Special Permissions - USFWS Special Use Permit for scientific wildlife research - MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for bird banding/research - Seasonal blackout periods during peak migration (March–May, Aug–Nov) Submit requests to: Bear River MBR Manager, 2155 West Forest Street, Brigham City, UT 84302
After
## Drone Rules - Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Utah **Drones are prohibited** under USFWS Director's Order 210. ### Airspace / Site Context - Over 250 bird species recorded; up to 4 million individual birds use the refuge annually during migration - The 74,000-acre refuge is adjacent to the Great Salt Lake; shore-level winds and salt spray create hazardous conditions for UAS - Ogden-Hinckley Airport (OGD) Class D is ~20 NM south; Salt Lake City International (SLC) Class B outer ring extends toward the refuge ### Key Rules - LAANC check required for any flight near SLC Class B that reaches the Bear River Delta area - USFWS Special Use Permit required for research or commercial UAS - Tundra swans (up to 20,000) stage in November; drone mass-flushing events have caused documented injuries ### Source - USFWS Bear River: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear-river-migratory-bird
Show inline change markers
- - Peak season: ⚠️ Heightened MBTA enforcement March–November - - Coordinates: 41.4667° N, 112.2000° W - - Includes Bear River delta wetlands, marshes, open water impoundments, - and upland grasslands - - Up to 2 million birds during peak spring/fall migration - - Nearest city: Brigham City, UT (~15 miles southeast) - migratory bird concentration in Intermountain West; any UAS - disturbance constitutes federal violation - - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — snowy plover and - other ESA-listed species use refuge seasonally - - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge - - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per disturbance - - ESA Section 9 "take" penalties up to $25,000 civil + - $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment - - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - - Equipment confiscation by USFWS officers - ## Special Permissions - - USFWS Special Use Permit for scientific wildlife research - - MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for bird banding/research - - Seasonal blackout periods during peak migration (March–May, Aug–Nov) - Submit requests to: Bear River MBR Manager, - 2155 West Forest Street, Brigham City, UT 84302
May 27, 2026 10:58 PM
Approved
• Added a complete drone restriction profile for Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge based on USFWS 50 CFR § 27.34, MBTA peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species rules, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107.
Moderation feedback
Approved
Confidence: 0.99
Your proposed edit has been approved. The information about the prohibition of drone operations at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is accurate and well-supported by official sources. The outline you provided appropriately matches the selected location. Thank you for your contribution.
Sources
- https://www.fws.gov/media/unmanned-aircraft-systems-uas-policy — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-107 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-B/part-17 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
- https://faa.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=9c2e4406710048e19806ebf6a06754ad — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
- https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/chapter-I/subchapter-C/part-27/section-27.34 — USFWS regulations under 50 CFR § 27.34, Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) peak migration protections, ESA Section 9 listed species provisions, and FAA 14 CFR Part 107 ban all unauthorized drone operations within refuge boundaries.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Unknown | NoFly |
| Summary | — | Drone operations are strictly prohibited at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge under USFWS regulations, controlled by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. No recreational or commercial flights are permitted without an explicit USFWS Special Use Permit. The refuge is one of the most important wetland habitats in the Western |
| Mapped shapes | — | 2eab82ef-3497-4ec3-9ae7-96053ee52314 |
Before
After
## Authorization Status - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit - Peak season: ⚠️ Heightened MBTA enforcement March–November ## Geographic Boundaries Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is located in Box Elder County, Utah, at the northeastern end of Great Salt Lake. - Total area: ~74,000 acres - Coordinates: 41.4667° N, 112.2000° W - Includes Bear River delta wetlands, marshes, open water impoundments, and upland grasslands - Up to 2 million birds during peak spring/fall migration - Nearest city: Brigham City, UT (~15 miles southeast) ## Regulations - USFWS Refuge UAS Policy prohibits all UAS without Special Use Permit - 50 CFR § 27.34 — USFWS motorized equipment prohibition on refuges - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — highest-density migratory bird concentration in Intermountain West; any UAS disturbance constitutes federal violation - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — snowy plover and other ESA-listed species use refuge seasonally - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge ## Penalties - USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34 - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per disturbance - ESA Section 9 "take" penalties up to $25,000 civil + $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day - Equipment confiscation by USFWS officers ## Special Permissions - USFWS Special Use Permit for scientific wildlife research - MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for bird banding/research - Seasonal blackout periods during peak migration (March–May, Aug–Nov) Submit requests to: Bear River MBR Manager, 2155 West Forest Street, Brigham City, UT 84302
Show inline change markers
+ ## Authorization Status + - Recreational: ❌ 100% Banned + - Commercial (Part 107): ❌ Not allowed without USFWS Special Use Permit + - Peak season: ⚠️ Heightened MBTA enforcement March–November + + ## Geographic Boundaries + Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge is located in Box Elder County, + Utah, at the northeastern end of Great Salt Lake. + - Total area: ~74,000 acres + - Coordinates: 41.4667° N, 112.2000° W + - Includes Bear River delta wetlands, marshes, open water impoundments, + and upland grasslands + - Up to 2 million birds during peak spring/fall migration + - Nearest city: Brigham City, UT (~15 miles southeast) + + ## Regulations + - USFWS Refuge UAS Policy prohibits all UAS without Special Use Permit + - 50 CFR § 27.34 — USFWS motorized equipment prohibition on refuges + - Migratory Bird Treaty Act (16 U.S.C. § 703) — highest-density + migratory bird concentration in Intermountain West; any UAS + disturbance constitutes federal violation + - Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C. § 1531) — snowy plover and + other ESA-listed species use refuge seasonally + - FAA 14 CFR Part 107 governs commercial operations nationwide + - Airspace: Class E above 700 ft AGL; surface Class G within refuge + + ## Penalties + - USFWS fines up to $5,000 per violation under 50 CFR § 27.34 + - MBTA fines up to $15,000 + 6 months imprisonment per disturbance + - ESA Section 9 "take" penalties up to $25,000 civil + + $50,000 criminal + 1 year imprisonment + - FAA civil penalties up to $27,500 per violation per day + - Equipment confiscation by USFWS officers + + ## Special Permissions + - USFWS Special Use Permit for scientific wildlife research + - MBTA Scientific Collecting Permit for bird banding/research + - Seasonal blackout periods during peak migration (March–May, Aug–Nov) + Submit requests to: Bear River MBR Manager, + 2155 West Forest Street, Brigham City, UT 84302
May 27, 2026 2:53 AM
Approved
• Rollback user history: Incorrect link
Moderation feedback
Administrative rollback audit entry.
Changed fields
Mapped shape change
Click to load this change into the shared map viewer here.
| Field | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
| Flight status | Permission | Unknown |
| Summary | Drone use is generally prohibited. USFWS rules apply. Permission rarely granted except for research. | — |
| Mapped shapes | e6277827-2b71-49cc-9e59-05447a93b4f1 | — |
Before
This refuge is a major wetland ecosystem supporting thousands of migratory birds and nesting waterfowl. Drone activity can cause large-scale disturbances, especially during breeding and migration seasons.
After
Show inline change markers
- This refuge is a major wetland ecosystem supporting thousands of migratory birds and nesting waterfowl. Drone activity can cause large-scale disturbances, especially during breeding and migration seasons.