Dark sky designation proposed for County’s south shore

By Sharon Harrison
Deliberating the pros and cons of establishing a dark sky preserve in the County was met with enthusiasm on the one hand, but concern on the other, by some members of council. In the end, they voted 9-4 in favour of having staff explore opportunities to support a dark sky preserve, with a report to come back with recommendations on steps and actions required.

The recorded vote at Thursday’s committee of the whole meeting saw councillors David Harrison, Roy Pennell, Brad Nieman and Phil Prinzen opposed (Chris Braney was absent).

The idea of an official dark sky designation for the South Shore of the County was presented by Steven Burr, who was representing the South Shore Joint Initiative (SSJI) and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC).

Seeking municipal support for a dark sky designation, Burr’s ask to the municipality included investigating the adoption of a light pollution bylaw, retro-fitting municipal lighting to incorporate dark sky lighting, providing a letter of support to RASC, along with a memorandum of understanding allowing RASC and SSJI to use the Mariners Park Museum as a dark sky observing site.

In his deputation to council, Burr spoke to what a dark sky preserve is, light pollution and its impact, what a loss of darkness means, the three different dark sky designations and principles, and what the Bortle scale is, and how the County rates.

A dark sky preserve is a protected area that makes a special commitment to protect and preserve the night sky, reducing or eliminating light pollution in all forms.

“Light pollution is the combined effects of glare light trespass and sky glow which adversely affects the flora and fauna, as well as denying humanity’s cultural heritage, our access to the stars.”

The rate of darkness on the night sky is rated using the one to eight Bortle scale, with one meaning an excellent dark sky, with an inner city or urban location rating at an eight.

In 2016, the County’s south shore was rated Bortle class two, according to satellite data, a typical dark sky site. However, in 2022, more recent data indicates the south Shore has dropped to a Bortle class three sky, a rural sky.

Burr stated this project has a 10-year timeline to get back to a dark sky designation of two, and said it is not something that is going to happen overnight.

“As we get rid of the older lights and move to newer lights… that would slowly over time affect the night sky and bring back a portion of darkness,” he said. “If the sky has been dimmed enough to get back to a Bortle scale of two, we are hoping to get the dark sky designation.”

Councillor Nieman asked what the reason was for the South Shore going from a Bortle scale two to a three in the last five years, where he also enquired where the data comes from, to which Burr said it comes from satellite data and is publicly available online.

As for the reason for the change in Bortle scale, Burr said they are seeing more developments as well as LED lighting.

“LED lighting is white and very bright and is much worse than the old lamps, and, of course, we are getting more development in Prince Edward County now too, so that, with the added street lighting, so that’s what causing it.”

Burr reiterated how the concern is lighting. “You can have more development, but if you have the appropriate lighting, well then you preserve the dark sky.”

Nieman stated the new street lights put in in the last four years he believes have a life expectancy of 20 or 25 years.

“To change out those lights for new lights, I don’t think would be prudent on council’s part to spend that kind of money for that,” added Nieman. Councillor John Hirsch said he was fairly sure the requirement was for the lights to be downward facing and dark sky compliant.

Nieman also said it wasn’t just a light bulb to replace as the whole light assembly has to be replaced, something interim CAO Adam Goheen confirmed.

“The LED lights are an assembly and are a one-piece, there would be cost involved to put different ones in as it’s a whole piece,” said Goheen.

Whether it was how dark the dark sky really is, or how many light bulbs may have to be replaced, to concern over introducing more bylaws, or debate over how much south shore development there really has been, there was significant discussion around the horse shoe with council members both in favour and against the proposal.

Councillor Pennell said bringing more people to a dark sky preserve would bring more light pollution to the area. Referencing the North Frontenac Dark Sky Preserve, Pennell said he was advised a large number of people have been visiting the preserve which, he said, was tremendous.

“The problem is, they are all driving, because it’s dark, with their lights on, and there is some real concern… are we gaining or losing by declaring an area that?” he asked. “The people in that area say the night light is actually far greater than it ever was since there are so many people to view that.”

Calling it a novel idea, councillor Phil St-Jean said he had some hesitations about the dark sky proposal.

“I don’t believe the amount of development that has occurred in the south shore is what is causing the difference in the night sky,” said St-Jean. “There just hasn’t been that much out there; in fact, it’s negligible, one or two houses over the last five to 10 years.”

However, he said he was more concerned about requests for new bylaws that restrict the rights of property owners and residents, and asked what that entails.

Burr said it’s not about telling the property owner they can’t have lighting, as that’s not what a bylaw does.

“It just outlines what is acceptable today for lighting, you still have lighting for safety and security, it doesn’t impact that at all. Instead of a bright white LED light, you have an amber coloured LED light, you have a full shielded instead of a light bulb that is shining in every direction.”

“I think that is a very minimal impact on the residents to save the south shore; you change your light bulb, you change your fixture, you put on motion detectors, I don’t think that’s too serious at all.” added Burr.

To protect the biodiversity of the region, the dark sky preserve would encompass the entire key biodiversity area, Burr said. However, this would be broken down into two zones: a buffer zone – South Marysburgh and Athol wards north of Army Reserve and Babylon Roads; and a core zone – South Marysburgh and Athol wards south of Army Reserve and Babylon Roads.”

St-Jean said he struggles with creating more bylaws which are extremely difficult to enforce.

“I am still struggling with what is going to be the impact beyond having to change a few light bulbs, in restrictions to not only to residents that are there, but the use of people who don’t just live there,” St-Jean expressed. “The South Shore Monarch Reserve is for everybody’s use.”

“I’m not saying no development along the south shore. I don’t think anywhere have I ever said that,” added Burr. “I said it was the lighting, not particularly development, it’s appropriate lighting, you can build a big building, but you have appropriate lighting on it; it’s not against development or usage.

“Just because it’s a dark sky site doesn’t mean people can’t use the area, that’s not what it’s about.”

Councillor Harrison was not in favour of the proposal.

“It looks to me to be another overlay to our planning documents, the same as some of these corridors, etc. and we do not need any more bylaws or overlays on our rural severances particularly,” he said.

“I’ve lived here all my life, the south shore seems as dark to me as it ever was, if not darker,” he said. “That land out there now is over half owned by conservation groups which means that there will not be adverse lighting on those lands. I don’t know why we keep making unnecessary rules for all they do is create complications.“

Councillors Kate MacNaughton and Hirsch were in favour of the proposal, as was councillor Bill Roberts, who spoke to the economic benefits of getting people outdoors in nature-based tourism.

“I am really looking forward to this coming to fruition; I am a big supporter of this idea,” added mayor Steve Ferguson.

Cheryl Anderson, SSJI president, reminded that SSJI’s vision is a permanently protected Prince Edward County South Shore where together biodiversity and people thrive.

“We educate and advocate for the protection, preservation and restoration of South Shore lands and waters.”

She said the dark sky designation helps protect and conserve the biodiversity of the South Shore.

“Daily periods of light and dark are required to maintain the health of all living things,” explained Anderson. “Millions of birds and bats migrate through the South Shore at night; they are disoriented by light as evidenced by the massive kill-off of migrating birds at the Lennox Addington power station in 1981, due to the attraction of the floodlights on the smoke stacks.”

Also on board with the idea of the dark sky designation proposal are various local environmental organizations, such as Nature Canada, Prince Edward County Field Naturalists, the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory, and the Quinte Field Naturalists.

More details from Steven Burr’s presentation on the dark sky proposal can be found below.

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Steve Burr – file photo

Steven Burr, on behalf of the South Shore Joint Initiative and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, shared more on his presentation to council on the proposed dark sky designation for the County’s South Shore.

In describing the impacts of light pollution, Burr said plants are affected by colour and duration of lighting.

“Artificial lighting also affects the biological rhythm in animals and thus modifying their behaviour patterns,” he said. “The illuminated shorelines impact fish and aquatic plants. Urban sources of artificial lighting at night broadly affect avian migratory behaviour and may have a role in shaping migratory routes of individual species.”

“The importance of the south shore, a key biodiversity area and should be protected… it is a critical avian and myotis [bats] migratory pathway and is home to various plants, amphibians and reptiles.”

It is also the last undeveloped area on the north coast of Lake Ontario.

Speaking to why introduce a dark sky preserve in the County, Burr said there were ecological benefits (protects wildlife and reduces disruption of migratory birds, aquatic life), preserves natural circadian rhythms for plants and animals.

But he said it also relates to cultural and natural heritage.

There are three different designations: the dark sky preserve, the nocturnal preserve and the urban star park, where he outlined what the principle requirements of a dark sky preserve are. Those include compliance with RASC guidelines for outdoor lighting, accessibility, quality of the night sky, and an outreach program.

Speaking to loss of darkness, Burr explained that in a recent study, there has been seven to 10 percent annual increase in sky brightness over the past 12 years.

“This loss of direct contact with the natural sky is a further support by the population concentrations in Canada,” stated Burr. “As Statistics Canada reports, in 2021, nearly three in four Canadians (73 percent) lived in one of Canada’s large urban centres.”

“The night sky is part of our heritage and preserving it ensures our future generations can experience the stars, it revives traditions tied to the stars, including indigenous storytelling, offers astronomy education and encourages youth engagement in nature and science and STEM learning.”

He said it also fosters community pride and community engagement and builds a sense of stewardship and identify around conservation, and encourages local involvement and education.

A dark sky preserve also aligns with sustainability goals, promoting energy-efficient lighting, environmental responsibility, and supports a broader climate and biodiversity initiatives.

Founded in 1868, the RASC is Canada’s leading astronomical organization, bringing together over 5,000 enthusiastic amateurs, educators and professional astronomers.

“In addition to the many national services, our 30 centres offer local programs across Canada. The RASC designates dark sky sites to recognize and protect areas with exceptional night sky conditions for astronomical observations and appreciation.”