Thank you for being part of this growing community that values the natural darkness of our region and works to reduce light pollution across Washington. Right now, you have an opportunity to make a difference.
Clallam County is currently undertaking a review and rewrite of the county’s comprehensive planning documents, including its lighting codes. We’re asking Dark Sky Advocates and supporters like you to send a short letter or email to the County Commissioners and the Director of Community Development. Your message will encourage the county to adopt, strengthen, and enforce dark sky–friendly lighting policies, guided by the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting:
- Useful – All light should have a clear purpose.
- Targeted – Light only where and when it’s needed.
- Low-Level – Keep it low-level and shielded.
- Warm-colored – Use warm-colored light.
- Controlled – Control it with timers or motion sensors.
Even if you don’t live in Clallam County, your voice matters—dark skies benefit everyone, from wildlife to human health, safety, and energy conservation. DarkSky Olympic Peninsula has already sent a formal letter to County leadership that you can review. We encourage you to add your own message of support. Every letter helps show that our community cares deeply about protecting the night.
Together, we can help Clallam County become a model for responsible lighting and keep our skies dark, healthy, and full of stars.
Who to Send Your Letter To:
- Bruce Emery, Director of Community Development
Bruce.Emery@clallamcountywa.gov - Tim Havel, Deputy Director of Community Development
tim.havel@clallamcountywa.gov - Mark Ozias, County Commissioner District 1
mark.ozias@clallamcountywa.gov - Randy Johnson, County Commissioner District 2
randy.johnson@ClallamCountywa.gov - Mike French, County Commissioner District 3
mike.french@ClallamCountywa.gov - Loni Gores, Clallam County Clerk of the Board
loni.gores@clallamcountywa.gov
Sample Letter Content:
Subject Line: Constituent Input on Clallam County Code Lighting Plan and Dark Sky Protection
Dear ADDRESSEE TITLE AND NAME,
I am writing in support of the protection of dark skies in Clallam County. I respectfully ask that you and your colleagues collectively take action that can result in a reduction of light pollution in Clallam County. I advocate for the Five Principles for Responsible Outdoor Lighting At Night, as found on the DarkSky Olympic Peninsula website: https://darkskyopwa.org/5principles. There are many reasons to support the reduction of light pollution, defined as the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally. Light pollution disrupts wildlife, impacts human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to climate change, and blocks our view of the natural night sky.
Excessive, poorly directed light at night is a form of pollution that is entirely preventable. With your leadership, Clallam County can set a strong example for other jurisdictions by adopting smart, health-conscious, and environmentally responsible lighting standards.
THIS IS A GOOD PLACE TO INCLUDE SPECIFIC CONCERNS THAT CONNECT YOU TO THIS CAUSE, WITH EXAMPLES BELOW.
DarkSky Olympic Peninsula members are available to answer questions, do research, and be active participants in the protection and preservation of dark skies on the Olympic Peninsula. Excessive artificial light is a growing, preventable form of pollution. Your leadership on this issue can help protect the health, well-being, and environment of Clallam County. I look forward to seeing meaningful action on this important issue.
Thank you for your time and your service,
YOUR NAME
Additional Talking Points/Language for communication can include any of the following points, your own story or experience, additional items you think of that get your message across.
These mainly address human health:
- Exposure to nighttime light has been linked to:
- Disruption of circadian rhythms and melatonin suppression
- Sleep disorders and poor sleep quality
- Increased risks of depression, anxiety, obesity, and cardiovascular disease
- The American Medical Association has acknowledged these dangers and recommends using fully shielded fixtures and warm-color lighting to minimize health risks. https://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/article/were-all-healthier-under-starry-sky/2024-10
I respectfully urge you to support or introduce policies that would:
- Define and prohibit nuisance lighting that spills into others’ homes
- Require shielded, downward-facing fixtures on residential and commercial properties
- Limit brightness and color temperature for outdoor lights
- Create a clear process for residents to file and resolve lighting complaints
- Educate the public on responsible lighting practices
- Enforce shielded lighting requirements
- Establish maximum brightness levels and limits on blue-rich LED lighting
- Improve enforcement mechanisms and provide clear complaint pathways for residents
- Support public outreach on safe, responsible lighting practices
- Prioritize dark-sky protections in planning and development review processes
These address harm to ecosystems:
- Plants and animals depend on Earth’s daily cycle of light and dark to govern life-sustaining behaviors such as reproduction, nourishment, sleep, and protection from predators.
- Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures, including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, and plants.
- Nocturnal animals sleep during the day and are active at night. Light pollution radically alters their nighttime environment by turning night into day.
- Many insects are drawn to light, but artificial lights can create a fatal attraction. Declining insect populations negatively impact all species that rely on insects for food or pollination. Some predators exploit this attraction to their advantage, affecting food webs in unanticipated ways.
These address additional concerns:
- Lighting levels that are higher than necessary and light that shines when and where it’s not needed is wasteful. Wasting energy has huge economic and environmental consequences.
- There is no clear scientific evidence that increased outdoor lighting deters crimes. It may make us feel safer, but it has not been shown to make us safer.
- Outdoor lighting is intended to enhance safety and security at night, but too much lighting can actually have the opposite effect. Visibility should always be the goal.
Useful References:
Clallam County Comprehensive Plan: https://www.clallamcountywa.gov/1842/Comprehensive-Plan-Update
These are the current codes:
- Lighting Code Applicability: https://clallam.county.codes/CCC/33.53.020
- Outdoor and Security Lighting: https://clallam.county.codes/CCC/33.53.100
- Additional Lighting Codes found on DarkSky Olympic Peninsula’s website:
https://darkskyopwa.org/lighting-codes/