Preserving the Night: Bay Area Community Fights for Dark Skies

Several communities in western Marin County, California, including Point Reyes Station, Bolinas, and Stinson Beach, are seeking to be designated as Dark Sky Places to protect their night sky quality from light pollution. The initiative, led by the DarkSky West Marin group, aims to adopt light-limiting features and write them into local regulations. The communities hope to become Northern California's first recognized Dark Sky Place and join the 131 certified Dark Sky Places in the United States. Light pollution disrupts circadian rhythms, harms wildlife, and diminishes the wonder of gazing at the night sky.