Southern Oregon

Applegate After Dark (AAD) continues to grow community support for dark sky advocacy and action in southwest Oregon. Under the umbrella of the Applegate Partnership and Watershed Council, AAD recently received an innovation grant from "A Greater Applegate" to develop "rack cards" and to purchase dark sky compliant outdoor lightbulbs to distribute when we participate in local events. AAD is planning a binocular star party at a local winery later this spring. Visit our webpage for forthcoming details. https://www.applegatepartnership.org/applegateafterdark

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is working towards becoming an international dark sky park. Covering 144,000 acres of public land open year-round for stargazing, the monument boasts promising conditions for dark skies, supported by two years of SQM data. The Bureau of Land Management is enhancing this experience by replacing 45 exterior lights at the Hyatt Lake Recreation Area. Look for dark sky themed events at the monument in 2026!

Through Travel Oregon's Recreation Ready program, the Illinois Valley Chamber of Commerce has completed a Phase 1 Feasibility Report and is advancing the Gateway to the Stars initiative through Phase 2. There will be a strong focus on accessibility, community engagement, and partnership. We have secured an accessibility consultant to help guide inclusive design and have issued a Request for Quotes for a dark sky consultant to support best practices in night-sky stewardship. This phase will include robust community outreach and collaboration with key partners to ensure the project reflects shared priorities and delivers meaningful regional impact. Key partners include the City of Cave Junction, Main Street Cave Junction, Water League, Siskiyou Field Institute, and Travel Southern Oregon.