Humboldt
County just took a big step towards protecting our night sky! In
August, the Board of Supervisors approved the Inland Outdoor Lighting
Ordinance, regulating outdoor lights to limit light pollution and
light trespass. This is a significant win for the dark sky movement
and will require new development on unincorporated land to use light
fixtures and bulbs that reduce light pollution.
But
this isn’t just about seeing more stars — light pollution disrupts
the natural rhythms of wildlife and humans alike. Bright lights left
on at night can alter the timing of bird migrations, interfere with
seasonal flowering cycles, and affect our own sleep cycles.
Sylvia
van Royen, GIS & Policy Analyst for Humboldt Waterkeeper, joins
us to discuss the new lighting ordinance and how Humboldt residents
can adapt their outdoor lighting to be friendlier to migrating birds
and support the biological rhythms essential to our region’s
biodiversity.
To
learn more:
