Utah is home to some of the nation’s darkest skies. Now Moab is hoping to join the ranks of Dark Sky-certified places.
For the past four years, Utah Governor Spencer Cox has declared April “Utah Dark Sky Month.” According to his declaration, over 80% of Americans can’t view the Milky Way from their homes due to light pollution. But that’s not the case in the Beehive state. With 25 accredited Dark Sky locations, Utah leads the nation in number of certifications. Most recently, Castle Valley was named the fourth Dark Sky Community in Utah.
Map of Utah light pollution from light pollution tracking website
The governor’s declaration cited the many benefits of promoting dark skies, including astrotourism generating nearly $6 billion for the state and that “dark sky practices in land use, construction, utilities and other aspects of community life actively promotes local governance, reduces energy-costs and preserves Utah’s Western lifestyle.”
Moab is surrounded by multiple International Dark Sky Parks & Places, including Arches and Canyonlands national parks and Dead Horse Point State Park.
“Utah is home to some of the most breathtaking areas in the world, but many people only visit them during the daytime,” said Utah State Parks Director Scott Strong. “At our state parks, we offer dark sky programs and tours that help visitors see these areas in a unique way. This not only improves our visitors’ experience but also helps open their minds to a new and exciting activity to participate in moving forward.”
The stars shine above Turret Arch
NPS Photo
Dark skies are one reason the Moab area is so popular, but more visitation and development can also mean more light pollution. As tourism in and around the parks has increased, the city of Moab is trying to keep the skies above the city dark and work toward a Dark Sky Community certification.
This past December, Moab updated the Moab Outdoor Lighting Ordinance (MOLO), which was first implemented in 2019. These changes make Moab’s dark sky goals more practical and achievable. The city of Moab’s director of sustainability, Alexi Lamm, is helping direct the city’s efforts to gain the Dark Sky certification.
“We have submitted an application, and we’re waiting for feedback,” Lamm said. “It’s an iterative process, so we expect to do some revisions and go back and forth but hopefully to arrive at a dark sky designation for our community.”
Achieving a dark sky status requires action from the city, local businesses and community members. Lamm noted that the city has audited their current lighting and is working to bring city-owned lights into alignment with the new code.
Currently, testing is in progress on decorative light fixtures between 200 and 300 South on Main Street. This trial includes using warmer colors and directing the light at the ground rather than into the sky. The goal is to have all of Moab’s lights up to code by 2029, which Lamm believes is possible with sufficient community support.
The city is also partnering with nonprofit organizations interested in helping support the city on the path toward designation.
“We’ve partnered with the Friends of Arches and Canyonlands Parks,” Lamm said, “and they have created a rebate program for people who are trying to replace their lighting.”
According to their website, the Outdoor Lighting Retrofit Assistance Program “provides financial help and resources to full-time Moab City and Grand County residents so that they may acquire code-compliant exterior lighting fixtures and bulbs for their homes.” Citizens can receive up to $200 for dark sky-friendly outdoor lighting.
Some members of the community are worried that working toward a dark sky designation means fewer lights in the city, which would impact safety.
“There’s a perception some people have had from the name dark skies, so that means dark streets,” Lamm said. “What it actually means is light is directed down to the ground where we need it and not up at the sky where we don’t.”
Updating the lighting also means upgrading old and worn out structures. Moab’s Sustainability Office is partnering with Rocky Mountain Power to find ways to implement innovative lighting solutions that will be more efficient and cost-effective. Lamm is confident that the changes will ultimately improve lighting throughout the city.
“As people who live in Moab, this makes it possible to look up and see more stars when you’re inside the city,” she said. “But it also is nice because for people who are trying to look at stars around the city who might be outside of it, it reduces that sky glow that might be coming off of Moab. So it’ll make it better for everybody.”
Citizens with questions or concerns about the new lighting codes or who are looking for ways to support the city’s Dark Sky goals can contact the Moab Sustainability Office.
