On Aug 1, 2017, at 4:21 PM, Karlson, Ryan (PARKS) <[email protected]> wrote:
Hi John,
Thanks for the prompt response. This is certainly disappointing news. At this point in the process, is it possible to better understand what faults of the revised May report are “unlikely to be remedied”? For example, is the quality of the dark sky at this location (i.e. our sky quality meter readings) no longer consistent with your standards or are they related to previous actions of our program?
I realize you may not be able to respond fully while a decision is in process. I am just trying to understand what the reality of reapplying would look like in current conditions, and whether these faults would still be largely in place or if they are rooted in issues that can be resolved through higher levels of demonstration/coordination with the IDA?
Regardless of the outcome of the 9/16 Board decision, we hope to maintain a working partnership with the IDA.
Thank you for your time.
Respectfully,
Ryan
Ryan Karlson, M.S.
Interpretive Program Manager
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Land: 360.902.8650
Cell:
From: John Barentine [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2017 1:32 PM
To: Karlson, Ryan (PARKS)
Subject: Re: Goldendale Observatory - IDSP Revised Annual Report
Hi Ryan,
You’re correct about the sky brightness readings at GOSP, although there weren’t enough measurements figure out whether the set is representative of typical nighttime conditions. The three measurements average to 19.8 magnitudes per square arcsecond (the units of the SQM device), which is below the threshold for Bronze-tier Dark Sky Park eligibility. Data from Earth-orbiting satellites (see, e.g., https://www.lightpollutionmap.info) shows Goldendale itself becoming apparently brighter at night in recent years, which might explain the higher readings. If GOSP applied for Dark Sky Park status today under the current rules, I can’t guarantee that it would be eligible for the designation on this basis. Again, though, we would need more sky brightness measurements to know for sure.
My reading (and understanding) of the Committee deliberation on the GOSP updated report is that there’s a consensus view of the management of the Park with respect to the IDA status. The view is that the local management and staff have not shown sufficient commitment to the maintenance of the designation through words or actions. (Emphasis added).
Here are some other specifics they pointed out to me:
· While “there was [sic] been substantial community dialog regarding an update to the City of Goldendale’s lighting ordinance,” there is no evidence that GOSP staff have participated in any public hearings on the issue. The WSP report merely reproduces the text of the proposed ordinance on pages 16-19 with the statement that “It is our understanding that a second draft, with language modifications, is currently under review.”
· A suggested curriculum is reproduced on pages 9-10, with no indication whether it is being currently presented at the Park.
· The entire basis of the Park’s external outreach is given as its participation in the August 2016 Gorge Night Sky Symposium (page 7), which it co-sponsored (but in which it otherwise evidently did not have any involvement).
· The report admits that “Our largest challenge is the lack of staff capacity to develop effective outreach relationships with potential partners.” (page 7) The Committee concludes that the Park has made no significant efforts to create sustainable community relationships that serve the interest of dark skies over Goldendale.
Again, many of these items come back to the attitude of the GOSP leadership and employees toward these various goals and obligations. To the extent that WSPRC does or does not exert supervision of park managers and their staff, it seems unable to change the culture at the Park in this regard. While I think the Committee recognizes the interest of WSPRC in maintaining the Dark Sky Park designation for GOSP, it seems unconvinced that the desire is reflected locally at the Park or in the community of Goldendale. (Emphasis added).
All that said, of course, none of this will affect what relationship exists between IDA and WSPRC. In the future, that relationship may or may not be expressed through formal Dark Sky Park designations. However, we support the work you’re doing to promote dark skies in Washington State Parks, and we hope to find ways we can work together in the future toward that common goal. Too, I thank you personally for your attention to the issue with GOSP throughout this process, and care with which the updated report was put together.
I’ll have a full update for you once our Board of Directors has considered the matter. If you would like to submit a letter or other form of testimony regarding GOSP to our Board, you’re welcome to submit comments in writing to either our Executive Director, Scott Feierabend and/or our Board President, Diana Umpierre.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Best regards,
John
From: John Barentine [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2017 5:25 PM
To: Karlson, Ryan (PARKS)
Cc: Amanda Gormley
Subject: Re: Goldendale Observatory - Letter to IDA Board President
On Sep 26, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Karlson, Ryan (PARKS) <[email protected]> wrote:
Did the IDA Board of Directors take action on the Goldendale Observatory agenda item at their 9/16 meeting?
Hi Ryan,
I had a debrief on this today with my boss. The IDA Board voted on the 16th to de-certify Goldendale Observatory, although it left the door open for the park if it wants to apply again. If the park chooses to apply, it would do so under whatever guidelines were then considered current; right now, those are the 2015 guidelines published on our website. Otherwise, the revocation is immediate. The park must therefore immediately cease using the IDA name, logo, and any reference to “International Dark Sky Park”. A hardcopy letter informing WSPRC about the outcome will go out to Don Hoch early in the coming week.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
John
John C. Barentine, Ph.D. | Program Manager
International Dark-Sky Association
3223 N 1st Ave
Tucson, AZ 85719-2103 USA
+ 1 (520) 347 6363
[email protected]
darksky.org
Hi John,
Thanks for the prompt response. This is certainly disappointing news. At this point in the process, is it possible to better understand what faults of the revised May report are “unlikely to be remedied”? For example, is the quality of the dark sky at this location (i.e. our sky quality meter readings) no longer consistent with your standards or are they related to previous actions of our program?
I realize you may not be able to respond fully while a decision is in process. I am just trying to understand what the reality of reapplying would look like in current conditions, and whether these faults would still be largely in place or if they are rooted in issues that can be resolved through higher levels of demonstration/coordination with the IDA?
Regardless of the outcome of the 9/16 Board decision, we hope to maintain a working partnership with the IDA.
Thank you for your time.
Respectfully,
Ryan
Ryan Karlson, M.S.
Interpretive Program Manager
Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
Land: 360.902.8650
Cell:
From: John Barentine [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2017 1:32 PM
To: Karlson, Ryan (PARKS)
Subject: Re: Goldendale Observatory - IDSP Revised Annual Report
Hi Ryan,
You’re correct about the sky brightness readings at GOSP, although there weren’t enough measurements figure out whether the set is representative of typical nighttime conditions. The three measurements average to 19.8 magnitudes per square arcsecond (the units of the SQM device), which is below the threshold for Bronze-tier Dark Sky Park eligibility. Data from Earth-orbiting satellites (see, e.g., https://www.lightpollutionmap.info) shows Goldendale itself becoming apparently brighter at night in recent years, which might explain the higher readings. If GOSP applied for Dark Sky Park status today under the current rules, I can’t guarantee that it would be eligible for the designation on this basis. Again, though, we would need more sky brightness measurements to know for sure.
My reading (and understanding) of the Committee deliberation on the GOSP updated report is that there’s a consensus view of the management of the Park with respect to the IDA status. The view is that the local management and staff have not shown sufficient commitment to the maintenance of the designation through words or actions. (Emphasis added).
Here are some other specifics they pointed out to me:
· While “there was [sic] been substantial community dialog regarding an update to the City of Goldendale’s lighting ordinance,” there is no evidence that GOSP staff have participated in any public hearings on the issue. The WSP report merely reproduces the text of the proposed ordinance on pages 16-19 with the statement that “It is our understanding that a second draft, with language modifications, is currently under review.”
· A suggested curriculum is reproduced on pages 9-10, with no indication whether it is being currently presented at the Park.
· The entire basis of the Park’s external outreach is given as its participation in the August 2016 Gorge Night Sky Symposium (page 7), which it co-sponsored (but in which it otherwise evidently did not have any involvement).
· The report admits that “Our largest challenge is the lack of staff capacity to develop effective outreach relationships with potential partners.” (page 7) The Committee concludes that the Park has made no significant efforts to create sustainable community relationships that serve the interest of dark skies over Goldendale.
Again, many of these items come back to the attitude of the GOSP leadership and employees toward these various goals and obligations. To the extent that WSPRC does or does not exert supervision of park managers and their staff, it seems unable to change the culture at the Park in this regard. While I think the Committee recognizes the interest of WSPRC in maintaining the Dark Sky Park designation for GOSP, it seems unconvinced that the desire is reflected locally at the Park or in the community of Goldendale. (Emphasis added).
All that said, of course, none of this will affect what relationship exists between IDA and WSPRC. In the future, that relationship may or may not be expressed through formal Dark Sky Park designations. However, we support the work you’re doing to promote dark skies in Washington State Parks, and we hope to find ways we can work together in the future toward that common goal. Too, I thank you personally for your attention to the issue with GOSP throughout this process, and care with which the updated report was put together.
I’ll have a full update for you once our Board of Directors has considered the matter. If you would like to submit a letter or other form of testimony regarding GOSP to our Board, you’re welcome to submit comments in writing to either our Executive Director, Scott Feierabend and/or our Board President, Diana Umpierre.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions.
Best regards,
John
From: John Barentine [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2017 5:25 PM
To: Karlson, Ryan (PARKS)
Cc: Amanda Gormley
Subject: Re: Goldendale Observatory - Letter to IDA Board President
On Sep 26, 2017, at 2:49 PM, Karlson, Ryan (PARKS) <[email protected]> wrote:
Did the IDA Board of Directors take action on the Goldendale Observatory agenda item at their 9/16 meeting?
Hi Ryan,
I had a debrief on this today with my boss. The IDA Board voted on the 16th to de-certify Goldendale Observatory, although it left the door open for the park if it wants to apply again. If the park chooses to apply, it would do so under whatever guidelines were then considered current; right now, those are the 2015 guidelines published on our website. Otherwise, the revocation is immediate. The park must therefore immediately cease using the IDA name, logo, and any reference to “International Dark Sky Park”. A hardcopy letter informing WSPRC about the outcome will go out to Don Hoch early in the coming week.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Regards,
John
John C. Barentine, Ph.D. | Program Manager
International Dark-Sky Association
3223 N 1st Ave
Tucson, AZ 85719-2103 USA
+ 1 (520) 347 6363
[email protected]
darksky.org
