According to Chad Moore, physical scientist at Pinnacles and coordinator of the project, the ultimate goals are to establish a measurable standard for light pollution, provide resource managers at park units with measurement tools, and raise awareness of light pollution in the general populace. According to the report, light pollution not only affects visitors' experience of viewing dark skies, but also endangers some birds and sea turtles by drawing them away from their natural habitats. This is just the beginning of what has to be a bold new effort to save our dark skies. According to John Notar, meteorologist for the Park Service's Air Resources Division, the agency also has developed a computer program that calculates the magnitude of stars lost to visitors' view because of light pollution. The program helps NPS to work with local communities on reducing both light and air pollution, which exacerbates the loss of dark skies by scattering light.
Dark skies are an endangered species.
Various communities around the country are working to reduce light pollution. One such is the city of Moab, in Grand County, Utah. Light from the community affects both Canyonlands and Arches national parks. Lillian Makeda, a local community activist, and others in Moab are bringing together members of the city and county councils and planning commissions with representatives from the Park Service and state parks to discuss the issue. Makeda hopes that the city and county will adopt a unified code to combat light pollution.