Light pollution is one of the easiest forms of pollution to solve, and the movement to protect and preserve the night sky is sweeping across the world. Southwestern Colorado is embracing this movement. Communities such as Westcliffe, and Silvercliffe, CO were the first in Colorado to earn Dark Sky designation, followed by Great Sand Dunes National Park being named a Dark Sky Reserve.  Mineral County, facilitated by Headwaters Alliance, has joined with Custer County, Huerfano County and the Sand Luis Valley Museum Association to create the first dark sky tour of Colorado, branded Colorado Stargazing, with a grant award from the Colorado Tourism Office and led by Vista Works, Buena Vista, CO.
​

The inspiration for preserving the night sky in Mineral County began with Headwaters Alliance board member, Jan Crawford. Crawford spent the latter half of her adulthood protecting river fish species and habitats. Now retired, Crawford continues to look for ways to preserve the place she loves. She was first introduced to the work of the International Dark Sky Association at a Colorado Tourism Office workshop hosted by the San Luis Valley Museum Association. Crawford thought this would be a wonderful and simple concept for Creede to adopt, given the incredibly dark sky in Mineral County.

In 2018, Crawford recruited long-time amateur astronomer, Terry Taddeucci, to help organize a stargazing event to coincide with the Persied meteor shower. Forty people, many of whom had never looked through a telescope, were able to view three planets and one asteroid through telescopes. The success of the star party made Taddeucci realize “that we should do more to promote and preserve the value and beauty of our dark sky in Creede.”

The high altitude and low humidity in Mineral County contribute to the clarity of the milky way in our gloriously dark night sky. Headwaters Alliance is working with the community to preserve the night sky through responsible lighting practices and public education with the goal of becoming a Dark Sky Reserve through the International Dark Sky Association. HWA is working closely with US Forest Services, SLVREC, Rio Grande Silver, Creede School, the City of Creede, Mineral County and the community to accomplish this goal.

Through meetings and engaging events, HWA is sharing resources and information to help community members to modify lighting fixtures to dark sky friendly criteria. This ensures that fixtures shine light where it is needed - on the ground.  This saves energy without sacrificing safety, and all while preserving the dark sky. Community members are invited to participate in a Citizen Science effort and take their own dark sky measurements with either of the following apps: “Loss of the Night” or “Dark Sky Meter.” With the combined effort of community and the already dark night sky, Dark Sky Certification is within reach. 

Headwaters Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  Our mission is to cultivate a sustainable environmental and economic future for the headwaters of the upper Rio Grande through community engagement, restoration, education, and innovation. For more information, contact us at 719-695-0359 or via email at coordinator@headwatersalliance.org.

For more information on this topic, please contact Katherine Valicenti, Engagement Coordinator for the Headwaters Alliance at coordinator@headwatersalliance.org

This article original ran in the South Fork Tines

#coloradostargazing #darkskies #slv #sanluisvalley #mysticsanluisvalley #stargazing #visitcreede