Dark Sky Initiative - Survey
Posted: 01/07/25
Care For Big Bear is leading the charge to curb light pollution in the Big Bear Valley. Long-time residents remember a time when the night sky was an astronomical wonder with nightly views of the Milky Way and numerous more stars.
While Big Bear's flourishing tourism industry is an accomplishment worthy of admiration, our natural environment has taken the hit in a few ways - including the dimming of our night sky.
The sky is the ultimate art gallery just above us. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Care For Big Bear is happy to share a few strides that have been made in promoting the Dark Sky Initiative:
- The City of Big Bear Lake was happy to approve and co-brand a brochure with CFBB for distribution within City limits. A county brochure is also available for valley east reference.
- CFBB is in an open dialogue with the City to implement Dark Sky policies when and where appropriate.
- CFBB received an overwhelming amount of responses to a recent survey to the Big Bear community.
Survey Responses:
Task force, maybe? Thanks for giving more attention to this subject!
Motion sensor lights. So many houses leave outdoor lights on all night long.
More widespread education. Keep it going!
Use outdoor lighting only when needed.
Use fully shielded light fixtures
Use motion sensors or timers instead of having lights on all night.
Astronomy evenings and marketing on the Big Bear website.
We remember when Big Bear had the Dark Sky ordinance. It was wonderful. I just don’t think people know about what that means anymore. People haven’t seen dark skies in Big Bear in a long time. If they get a chance to experience its wonder, I’m sure everyone will be on board to implement it.
Light ordinance much like sound ordinance. After a certain time lights should be out unless on motion sensor.
People should not leave their outside lights on if they are not at their cabin. We are up in the NF and some people who never come up leave there outdoor lights on and it really affects the night sky.