← Back to Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Drone Rules for Billy Frank Jr. Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge

Olympia, Washington (WA) • United States
100 Brown Farm Rd NE, Olympia, WA 98516, USA
Lat: 47.0728 • Lng: -122.713
Ground Not allowed Last updated: May 30, 2026
Summary
Edit rules/place details on map

USFWS prohibits drones on Nisqually NWR. The Puget Sound estuary refuge is adjacent to JBLM (Joint Base Lewis-McChord) restricted airspace; dual civilian/military restrictions apply.

Drone Rules - Nisqually NWR, Washington

Drones are prohibited under USFWS Director's Order 210; Joint Base Lewis-McChord (KLEW) Class D and restricted airspace overlap the northern refuge boundary.

Airspace / Site Context

  • Located at the southern end of Puget Sound; JBLM's R-6703 restricted area borders the refuge to the north
  • Seattle-Tacoma International (SEA) Class B outer ring extends south toward Nisqually Delta; LAANC check required for all flights near the refuge
  • Nisqually Delta is a critical wintering area for dabbling ducks and shorebirds; JBLM and the refuge coordinate on low-altitude airspace management

Key Rules

  • LAANC check for SEA Class B and JBLM restricted area before any flight near the Nisqually Delta
  • R-6703 (JBLM) restricted area: when active, no civilian UAS at any altitude; activation schedule available via NOTAMs
  • USFWS Special Use Permit required; research permits must also be coordinated with JBLM airspace management

Source

Map is not loaded yet
Load the map only when you need to view the rule outline.
This shows the latest mapped outline for this rules page. Click a shape to view its note when available.
Rule sources
Parent Rule Pages