Dark Skies | Stewardship, Advocacy and Certification 

“Since the invention of electric streetlights and the use of artificial
light at night (ALAN), we are losing the natural darkness of night literally at the speed
of light. In fact, it’s estimated that 80% of Americans and nearly 33% of all
humanity can no longer see the Milky Way from home.”

—Travel Oregon Dark Skies Toolkit

Why Are Dark Skies Important?

Dark skies hold immense importance for various facets of our world. They are crucial for human health, fostering a connection to nature and supporting balanced circadian rhythms. The impact on wildlife is equally significant, as natural behaviors such as health, navigation, hunting, and breeding depend on the darkness of night. Furthermore, dark skies play a vital role in our culture, providing a sense of our place in the universe, offering perspective, and serving as a source of inspiration. They also contribute to our heritage, enabling storytelling, placemaking, mythology, and tradition.

Lincoln City has relatively less light pollution than many cities of comparable size on the
Oregon Coast and elsewhere in the state.

Lincoln City's Commitment to Dark Sky Stewardship

Lincoln City is deeply committed to dark sky stewardship, an endeavor that yields numerous environmental, economic, and community benefits.

Environmental and Ecological Benefits
Current stewardship efforts focus on reducing light pollution, preserving nocturnal wildlife habitats, and minimizing the harmful impacts on ecosystems. Lincoln City aims to protect the night sky as a natural resource and facilitate sustainability and stewardship education.

Economic Advantages
Dark sky stewardship brings economic advantages by attracting more tourists interested in stargazing and dark sky experiences, thereby increasing local economic activity through dark sky tourism. This initiative can potentially boost property values, create opportunities for new visitor experiences, and reduce energy consumption.

"One study found that for every $1 spent on dark sky-friendly lighting,
there was a return on investment of $1.93 through increased tourism,
demonstrating the significant potential of this certification."
-Dark Sky International

Community and Health Benefits
The benefits of dark sky stewardship extend to the community and to the health of the individuals who live and visit here. It improves the local quality of life, supports cultural heritage and sense of place, and promotes better lighting practices that can enhance human health. This initiative increases equity, inclusion, and accessibility to the night sky for all, encourages more responsible outdoor lighting design, and fosters increased collaboration between local stakeholders. Furthermore, it creates opportunities for community education and engagement.

The Path To Dark Sky Certification

"Dark Sky Certification offers numerous benefits for communities, tourism destinations, and individual property owners. IDA Dark Sky Place certifications attract more visitors, provide public education about dark skies, bring economic benefits to surrounding communities,
and promote night skies getting darker."
-Travel Oregon Dark Skies Toolkit

To achieve a “Dark Sky” certification in Oregon a community must:

• Demonstrate exceptional night sky quality by implementing a robust outdoor lighting ordinance with minimal light pollution.
• Conduct sky quality measurements to document darkness.
• Actively engage in public outreach and education about light pollution.
• Show strong community support for dark sky preservation.
• Adhere to the standards set by the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) through their “International Dark Sky Places” program.

Lincoln City's Pursuit for Oregon Dark Sky Certification

Lincoln City is exceptionally well-positioned to become an Oregon certified Dark Sky location.
In 2024, the Lincoln City City Council directed Explore Lincoln City to investigate reducing light pollution on beaches, and the City Manager asked staff to explore Dark Sky certification. Notably, there are currently no certified dark sky locations on the Oregon Coast. Lincoln City also has less light pollution compared to other similar-sized cities on the Oregon Coast, such as Astoria, Seaside, Newport, and Coos Bay.

Explore Lincoln City's stewardship efforts align with Lincoln City’s location in the UNESCO Cascade Head Biosphere Region, the only Biosphere Region in the state of Oregon. Lincoln City boasts significant dark skies community and civic support and momentum, and dark skies drive tourism, which is Lincoln City’s number one economic driver.

Current Efforts

Current efforts include researching certification and potential contractor support, reviewing ordinances for improvements, conducting community outreach and education, evaluating and inventorying city lighting, and partnering for programming and events

Get Involved

You can actively support Lincoln City's Dark Sky Initiative by embracing the following responsible outdoor lighting principles.

Employ the Five Responsible Outdoor Lighting Principles

• Useful — Use light so it falls only where it is needed.
• Targeted — Direct light so it falls only where it is needed.
• Low-Level — Light should be no brighter than necessary.
• Controlled — Use light only when needed.
• Warm-Colored — Use warmer-color lights where possible.
  

Additional Resources

Central Oregon Coast Friends of the Night Sky — Meets Monthly

Dark Sky Oregon — Donate or volunteer

Travel Oregon Dark Skies Tourism Resources & Toolkit

Dark Sky International — Become a member or advocate

International Dark Sky Week — Participate in an event — April 21-28

Light Pollution Map