Call it an awakening, that slice of evening when the sun descends and stars appear. As the sky darkens, nature’s lights become brighter—and so does the glow emanating from porches, patios and barns. Artificial light.
While people may not move to eastern Santa Cruz County for dark skies, they soon come to appreciate them.
Josh Mentesana in Sonoita recognizes the value of dark skies. “There are few places left where we can truly enjoy the wonder of the universe, and I want my daughter to have the experience of spending time with family under the stars,” Mentesana said. Additionally, he has come to know astronomy enthusiasts who came to the area and built observatories, a testament to the unique quality of our night skies.
“It only takes one clear night to create a lasting memory,” he said.
Looking at community surveys—as far back as the 1990s—protecting dark skies and creating those lasting memories was a community value.
Again in an April 2025 town hall sponsored by the Sonoita-Elgin Preservation and Planning Committee (SEPPC), maintaining dark skies was a popular concern.
Consequently, the SEPPC made it their top priority, with committee member Gail Christmann leading the endeavor.
“I’ve been working professionally with lighting since 2008,” Christmann said, citing her association with Design Lights Consortium (DLC). DLC is an independent nonprofit organization providing data and information on, among other things, the reduction of light pollution. She noted that Santa Cruz County already has a dark skies ordinance. But pursuing an International Dark Sky Community designation—something the committee is focused on—would emphasize the importance of this issue on visitors and new residents. Other nearby Dark Sky communities include Tubac and Bisbee.
“This certification is an opportunity for community members to opt in to helping the effort, encouraging neighborly conversations (both with residents and businesses) rather than turning in neighbors for lighting violations,” said Aaron Gudenkauf, a member of the SEPPC. The committee’s efforts, he noted, are strictly educational, given that people may not be aware that they are in violation of a lighting ordinance.
The original county lighting ordinance was created in 2007 and ratified in Nov. 2024.
The ratification process gave local residents two years to comply—until Nov. 2026.
Four lighting zones were established in Santa Cruz County based on acreage and land use. Those two factors determine how much lighting—measured in lumens (lm)—is allowable. Information on maximum total outdoor light output requirements is available on the county website along with examples of acceptable and unacceptable lighting fixtures.
Additionally, home and business owners need to be aware that “color” plays a part in light intensity. For example, white or blue light is more intense than yellow, red or orange. So bulbs and fixtures play a big part in the equation—not just the wattage.
Juan Ceballo, chief building official for Santa Cruz County, applauded the SEPPC efforts in bringing awareness to the issue.
“Education is our biggest ally,” Ceballo said.
In terms of community support, the SEPPC has garnered 22 letters from local residents and 16 endorsements from area businesses. In the months ahead, committee members will survey local businesses with equipment that measures lumens.
“I think for some people lighting is a security issue,” Christmann said. She suggested when looking at one’s outdoor lighting, things to consider include what are you trying to light, why are you trying to light it, when does it need to be lit, and how much lighting is needed.
“There are tons of studies on the impact of artificial light,” Christmann said. People and some animals are meant to sleep at night.
“Some animals aren’t,” Christmann said. “It means a lot to let nature be nature.”