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Drone Rules for Conboy Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Glenwood, Washington (WA) • United States
100 Wildlife Refuge Rd, Glenwood, WA 98619, USA
Lat: 45.9657 • Lng: -121.341
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
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USFWS prohibits drones on Conboy Lake NWR. The refuge in the Yakima Valley foothills is one of only two western Washington locations where greater sandhill cranes have historically nested.

Drone Rules - Conboy Lake NWR, Washington

Drones are prohibited under USFWS Director's Order 210.

Airspace / Site Context

  • 5,814-acre meadow-wetland complex at the base of Mount Adams; Gifford Pinchot National Forest (USFS) and Yakama Nation Reservation border the refuge
  • Greater sandhill crane nesting pair (one of very few nesting records in western Washington); nesting territory disturbance has direct population-level impact
  • The Dalles (DLS) Class D is ~25 NM south; Portland (PDX) Class B outer ring is ~50 NM south

Key Rules

  • Yakama Nation Reservation borders the refuge; tribal government approval required for any drone operation over reservation land
  • Crane nesting season (April-July): 0.5-mile exclusion zone around occupied territories; USFWS crane coordinator must be notified
  • USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits go to USFWS Pacific Region

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