Forest Preserve of Kane County Adopts Responsible Outdoor Lighting Policy

The Forest Preserve District of Kane County unanimously adopted its first Outdoor Lighting Policy in July. Kane County becomes the third Forest Preserve District to adopt dark-sky friendly outdoor lighting policies, following Cook and DuPage. The Kane County Government website, Kane County Connects, announced that “the new policy will require responsible outdoor lighting within the District’s 23,000 acres of property, guided by Dark Sky International’s five principles: lighting that is useful, targeted, low level, controlled and warm colored.”

Chicago Chapter delegate, Valerie Blaine, worked closely with the District to achieve its new policy. Valerie is a retired Kane County Forest Preserve District naturalist and a volunteer steward. For many years, the District has presented numerous programs, including events with the Fox Valley Astronomical Society, that focus on the natural night environment. The District routinely schedules night hikes, some of which focus on nocturnal species like owls and bats. Valerie has always promoted the significance of a 24-hour ecosystem. “While most people are aware of daytime (diurnal) ecology, nocturnal ecology is equally important.”

When asked for a comment, Patrick Chess, Director of Natural Resources, directed us to the Forest Preserve’s stated reasons for the Policy.  Chess emphasized that the “effects of light pollution brightening the night sky has measurable negative impacts on wildlife, human health, energy and climate change, as well as our night sky heritage. Of particular importance to the District, as a conversation agency, are the impacts that nighttime light pollution can have on the ecosystems present in the preserves. Artificial light at night can disrupt the breeding rituals of amphibians, confuse migratory birds that depend on moonlight and star light to navigate, and create fatal attractions for insects drawn to light sources. The new Policy “fulfills the District’s mission to better preserve the night across the District’s lands.”

For information about the District’s programs, visit kaneforest.com.

Thank you, Forest Preserve District of Kane County!