Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation outlines Starry Skies certification steps for Gerlach

Chelsea Kinchlow, with the Nevada Division of Outdoor Recreation, told the Gerlach CAB that the state's Starry Skies program (authorized under SB52) offers a rolling destination certification that requires a community lighting inventory, an implementation plan, and either a policy or ordinance for public-facing lighting.

"In 2021, we formally passed the SB52, which gave us the Nevada Starry Skies Destination Program," Kinchlow said, explaining the program's goal of protecting dark skies while advancing sustainable outdoor recreation. She described the five principles of outdoor lighting the program recommends: useful, targeted, low-level, controlled and warm-colored fixtures.

Kinchlow proposed conducting an inventory of public-facing lights (post office, school, community center, businesses) and said Washoe County staff and volunteers could help complete the form and develop a plan. She said unincorporated communities can adopt either a voluntary policy or a formal ordinance but indicated ordinances are more likely to be perceived negatively; she offered templates and Dark-Sky International resources to assist local drafting.

Pam Dupree of Friends of Nevada Wilderness offered organizational support and noted possible modest funding from the "Save Starry Skies" license plate to help community efforts. Volunteer board members, including Dave Cooper, said they would help with the inventory and local NV Energy coordination on street lighting.