By: Konrad Flæte Gundersen
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ALAMOSA — Now comes the hard part for a Colorado group aiming to preserve a 6,000-square-mile area around the Sangre de Cristo mountains as an internationally-recognized dark sky zone: cutting light pollution from the two major towns of Salida and Alamosa.

A draft ordinance that Alamosa leaders are considering would regulate how commercial and residential lights are used.

“Those are our two biggest threats,” said Dani Robben, who was coordinating the push by San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO!), a local organization that promotes recreation.

“Just as everyone should have a right to clean water, to clean air, to the great outdoors, people should have a right to starlight,” Robben said.

Citing the benefits for human health, wildlife such as migratory birds, energy conservation and public safety, SLV GO! Organizers are distributing lawn signs and other materials to Alamosa residents supporting the effort to save starry skies.

This area encompassing eight counties between the Arkansas River and the border of New Mexico would become one of the largest dark sky preserves in the world, building on other efforts in southern Colorado that, proponents say, eventually could link together.

Much of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Refuge already is protected as wilderness, with night skies measuring exceptionally dark using light meters. If SLV GO! succeeds in attaining a certification by Dark Sky International as an “International Dark Sky Reserve,” residents and visitors to the area could gain stunning, relatively unobstructed views of planets, galaxies and the Milky Way that most people in the United States and Europe no longer can see due to glare.

“We’re surrounded by natural beauty and resources — and that includes the night sky,’’ Robben said. ‘’Visitors who come from urban areas where they can’t see the stars and the Milky Way are just taken aback coming to these areas.’’

But in order to meet the criteria set by Dark Sky International, Alamosa and Salida leaders would have to reduce significant urban light pollution from a variety of sources including big box stores, gas stations, car dealerships, motels, fast-food chain restaurants and schools.

At SLV GO!, Robben and her team tout multiple reasons for dialing back light at night.

“Scientific evidence suggests that artificial light at night has negative and deadly effects on many creatures, including amphibians, birds, mammals, insects, and plants,’’ Dark Sky International advocates say on their website.

Disruption of nocturnal animals’ activities, prey-predator relationships, breeding rituals, the hatching of sea turtles, and route-finding by bugs and birds rank among the harmful impacts of too much light.

Migratory birds become “confused and disoriented’’ because they rely on starlight to navigate, Robben said.

Bright light at night also hurts humans, suppressing production of the hormone melatonin, necessary for healthy sleep and brain functioning. Robben lists diabetes, cancer and insomnia among the health problem linked to artificial light at night.

Dark nights help humans sleep, and light at night can disrupt circadian rhythms – sleep cycles, according to research posted by the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health.

Opponents of light pollution control long have argued that bright lights on houses and buildings prevents crime.

Recent research refutes the notion of a direct correlation between night light and crime rates, Robben said, citing a study done in Chicago by the Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. The researchers concluded that bright streetlight at night may lead to increased crime.

‘’It appears that, with the increased lighting, came an increase in the number of crimes reported to the Chicago Police Department,” study authors wrote. “However, this may also imply that the increased lighting and visibility resulted in more crimes being reported as opposed to more crimes actually occurring.”

At Alamosa’s Town & Country car dealership, sales manager Justin Hacsi expressed skepticism about the notion that light isn’t needed for security.

‘’If I was a criminal walking up the street, I’d rather go someplace dark,’’ Hacsi said during a recent interview at his office.

He oversees a lot that holds more than 300 cars and trucks where bright lights at night – he points out that, at least, the light beams are directed downward so as not to waste light – enable constant video camera surveillance. Like car dealers elsewhere, Town & Country has been targeted by criminals who steal catalytic converters.

“Our building’s got cameras and without light we can’t see,’’ Hacsi said. ‘’With no light, all I gotta do is put on a black hood and crawl under a car.’’

Despite such skepticism, Robben said SLV GO! officials focused on potentially broad economic gains from tourism if dark skies are preserved are confident that business leaders and proponents will be able to work out a strategy for ensuring the visibility of an asset that big cities have lost.

“There’s a lot of partnership here in the valley.’’