In WA State, and many other states as well, they already use aerial photography to spy on rural areas to check for compliance with “farm plans” and zoning rules, as well as wetland compliance.
They hire an aerial photography company out of NY state to do the work in my county of WA State, so I know that other states are doing the same. They state dept of ecology and natural resources had their own plane that they used, but they were forced to give it up in budget cuts, so the wealthy environmentalists are donating their own time to do the photography.
Much of the environmental overreach is dependent on NGOs and appointed boards with private funding that insulates elected officials from the political blowback.
Bfl w/19, 20 & 24