Preserve the Dark! Reduce Light Pollution in West Marin
The Issue
Make Dark Sky–Friendly Lighting a priority in the County’s West Marin’s 2026 Visioning Process
TO: Marin County Board of Supervisors and West Marin Visioning Team
3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 329 San Rafael, CA 94903
Supervisor Eric Lucan, President
Supervisor Mary Sackett
Supervisor Brian Colbert
Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters
Supervisor Dennis Rodoni
Cc: Derek Johnson, County Executive; Talia Smith, Economic Vitality; Sarah Jones, Community Development, Joshua Bertrain and Kristin Drumm, West Marin Visioning; Nadia Seeteram, Climate and Sustainability
Dear Marin County Leaders:
DarkSky West Marin is a program of Sustainable Marin, a 501(C)(3) charitable organization with a growing list of over 500 members. We urge the Board to make dark sky–friendly lighting a clear priority in Marin County’s 2026 visioning process, policy statements and ordinances.
Night skies worldwide are brightening at an estimated 10% per year, with documented negative impacts on wildlife, human health, energy use, and climate. Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) also erodes a shared natural resource: our ability to see the stars and Milky Way.
Marin County is uniquely positioned to lead in the Bay Area. With its sensitive habitats, migration corridors, and extensive public lands, the County can significantly reduce light pollution while improving safety, saving energy, and protecting natural resources.
Community readiness is strong. West Marin retains sufficient darkness to qualify for International Dark Sky designation, and local events and partnerships demonstrate growing public support across environmental, climate, and community groups. It is crucial to preserve and improve darkness in West Marin because our relatively darker night sky supports biodiversity and economic vitality - visitors want to come to West Marin for its rural character and natural beauty day and night. Night activities like star gazing and bioluminescence tours are very popular here.
The impacts of light pollution are clear—and solvable. For example, up to one billion birds migrate over the Bay Area annually, many navigating by starlight. Artificial lighting disorients them, increasing collisions and mortality. Similar disruptions affect insects and other pollinators. Fortunately, proven solutions—shielded fixtures, warmer light, appropriate brightness, and adaptive controls—can quickly and cost-effectively reduce these impacts.
Other communities are already acting. Cities such as Flagstaff and Pittsburgh, as well as closer jurisdictions like Palo Alto and Humboldt County, have adopted effective lighting policies. Marin can do the same and become a regional model. DarkSky International (DarkSky.org) is an advocate for reducing light pollution and has over 60 chapters, as well as numerous corporate and community partners worldwide. They provide proven ordinance templates to speed adoption and implementation, while reducing energy costs.
We respectfully request that the Board:
• Make dark sky–friendly lighting an explicit priority in the 2026 visioning process, with measurable goals (e.g., reduced glare and skyglow, energy savings, wildlife protection).
• Update the County’s outdoor lighting ordinance to reflect current best practices.
• Inventory County-controlled lighting and prioritize high-impact retrofits.
• Adopt seasonal “Lights Out” guidelines during peak bird migration periods.
• Convene a stakeholder working group to guide implementation and build public support via educational activities.
We are ready to partner with the County on education, outreach, and implementation, and can provide model ordinance language and examples from peer jurisdictions.
Marin has a timely opportunity to protect public health, conserve energy, safeguard wildlife, and preserve its naturally dark night skies. We urge you to take these steps and make this commitment visible in the 2026 Visioning and Policy Statements.
Coming soon! We are partnering with other local environmental and community organizations who are aligned with our goal of a dark sky friendly county outdoor lighting ordinance. We will deliver to you the names of the organizations and individuals who publicly support this initiative in the near future.
Thank you for your leadership and consideration. Please reach out to us with any questions you may have. You can also message us at info@darkskywestmarin.com.
Sincerely,
Kurt Andersen
DarkSky West Marin
darkskywestmarin.com
email: info@darkskywestmarin.com
454
The Issue
Make Dark Sky–Friendly Lighting a priority in the County’s West Marin’s 2026 Visioning Process
TO: Marin County Board of Supervisors and West Marin Visioning Team
3501 Civic Center Drive, Suite 329 San Rafael, CA 94903
Supervisor Eric Lucan, President
Supervisor Mary Sackett
Supervisor Brian Colbert
Supervisor Stephanie Moulton-Peters
Supervisor Dennis Rodoni
Cc: Derek Johnson, County Executive; Talia Smith, Economic Vitality; Sarah Jones, Community Development, Joshua Bertrain and Kristin Drumm, West Marin Visioning; Nadia Seeteram, Climate and Sustainability
Dear Marin County Leaders:
DarkSky West Marin is a program of Sustainable Marin, a 501(C)(3) charitable organization with a growing list of over 500 members. We urge the Board to make dark sky–friendly lighting a clear priority in Marin County’s 2026 visioning process, policy statements and ordinances.
Night skies worldwide are brightening at an estimated 10% per year, with documented negative impacts on wildlife, human health, energy use, and climate. Artificial Light At Night (ALAN) also erodes a shared natural resource: our ability to see the stars and Milky Way.
Marin County is uniquely positioned to lead in the Bay Area. With its sensitive habitats, migration corridors, and extensive public lands, the County can significantly reduce light pollution while improving safety, saving energy, and protecting natural resources.
Community readiness is strong. West Marin retains sufficient darkness to qualify for International Dark Sky designation, and local events and partnerships demonstrate growing public support across environmental, climate, and community groups. It is crucial to preserve and improve darkness in West Marin because our relatively darker night sky supports biodiversity and economic vitality - visitors want to come to West Marin for its rural character and natural beauty day and night. Night activities like star gazing and bioluminescence tours are very popular here.
The impacts of light pollution are clear—and solvable. For example, up to one billion birds migrate over the Bay Area annually, many navigating by starlight. Artificial lighting disorients them, increasing collisions and mortality. Similar disruptions affect insects and other pollinators. Fortunately, proven solutions—shielded fixtures, warmer light, appropriate brightness, and adaptive controls—can quickly and cost-effectively reduce these impacts.
Other communities are already acting. Cities such as Flagstaff and Pittsburgh, as well as closer jurisdictions like Palo Alto and Humboldt County, have adopted effective lighting policies. Marin can do the same and become a regional model. DarkSky International (DarkSky.org) is an advocate for reducing light pollution and has over 60 chapters, as well as numerous corporate and community partners worldwide. They provide proven ordinance templates to speed adoption and implementation, while reducing energy costs.
We respectfully request that the Board:
• Make dark sky–friendly lighting an explicit priority in the 2026 visioning process, with measurable goals (e.g., reduced glare and skyglow, energy savings, wildlife protection).
• Update the County’s outdoor lighting ordinance to reflect current best practices.
• Inventory County-controlled lighting and prioritize high-impact retrofits.
• Adopt seasonal “Lights Out” guidelines during peak bird migration periods.
• Convene a stakeholder working group to guide implementation and build public support via educational activities.
We are ready to partner with the County on education, outreach, and implementation, and can provide model ordinance language and examples from peer jurisdictions.
Marin has a timely opportunity to protect public health, conserve energy, safeguard wildlife, and preserve its naturally dark night skies. We urge you to take these steps and make this commitment visible in the 2026 Visioning and Policy Statements.
Coming soon! We are partnering with other local environmental and community organizations who are aligned with our goal of a dark sky friendly county outdoor lighting ordinance. We will deliver to you the names of the organizations and individuals who publicly support this initiative in the near future.
Thank you for your leadership and consideration. Please reach out to us with any questions you may have. You can also message us at info@darkskywestmarin.com.
Sincerely,
Kurt Andersen
DarkSky West Marin
darkskywestmarin.com
email: info@darkskywestmarin.com
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Petition created on June 29, 2026