UPDATE: It appears Washington State Parks will attempt to re-establish the Goldendale Observatory State Park as an International Dark Sky Park. This is welcome news and this site will post on the status of these efforts.
In the meantime, efforts to persuade the City of Goldendale and Klickitat County to "do the right thing" to protect the Washington State taxpayers' Observatory investment will need to continue.
In the meantime, efforts to persuade the City of Goldendale and Klickitat County to "do the right thing" to protect the Washington State taxpayers' Observatory investment will need to continue.
Truth will ultimately prevail where there are pains to bring it to light.
George Washington
George Washington
Many take the beauty of a star-filled sky for granted, a result perhaps of modern society’s larger disconnect from nature. Designating a dark night sky as a natural treasure – as worthy of protection as a pristine mountain lake or majestic canyon – may therefore seem a bit unusual. A Dark Sky Place typically encompasses a park or community which protects the nighttime environment and offers visitors the opportunity to experience first-hand the beauty and inspiration which can be found in the night sky. They are intended to reconnect people with an aspect of nature that for most of humanity is becoming as remote and endangered as rain forests in the Amazon.
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A star-filled night sky has become a rare experience for most people. For a Dark Sky Place designation, the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA) requires “active participation in ongoing efforts to garner robust community support for dark sky protection. Participants serve as a beacon in their community for stewardship and passionate advocacy for the night sky.” This brings ecotourism benefits to surrounding communities, and preserves star-filled night skies for future generations.
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Several years ago, thanks to former Goldendale Observatory Interpretive Specialist Steven Stout, Goldendale Observatory State Park in Washington State was awarded the prestigious distinction of being certified as one of the first-in-the-world Dark Sky Parks by the International Dark-Sky Association. It features one of the nation’s larger and more accessible public telescopes. Built in the late 1960’s by amateur astronomers for Clark College in Vancouver, Washington, Goldendale was chosen as the location for the telescope because of the clear and dark night sky, an indispensable requirement for such a large telescope.
Unfortunately, thanks to indifference and opposition from local State Park personnel to dark sky education and advocacy for protection, along with historical neglect by the City of Goldendale and Klickitat County in protecting its dark sky natural resource - the Goldendale Observatory State Park achieved a singular distinction:
Unfortunately, thanks to indifference and opposition from local State Park personnel to dark sky education and advocacy for protection, along with historical neglect by the City of Goldendale and Klickitat County in protecting its dark sky natural resource - the Goldendale Observatory State Park achieved a singular distinction:
Goldendale Observatory is the first and only Dark Sky Place ever to be decertified by the IDA.
- The night sky of Goldendale Observatory has not been protected from the damaging effects of light pollution for over 45 years, despite promises made in order to acquire the telescope, as well as the presence of Goldendale and Klickitat County lighting codes enacted specifically for protection of the Observatory in place since 1979. These promises to protect the Observatory from light pollution apparently were little more than a bait-and-switch. Additionally, the unenforced and long outdated Klickitat County lighting code, and the more recent City of Goldendale lighting code revision, fail to meet many modern outdoor lighting best practices or IDA requirements. They are significantly substandard compared to other IDA Dark Sky Place lighting codes, most of which are not home to an astronomical observatory.
- An astronomical observatory is an unusual asset for a State Park system. The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has failed to involve any expertise for Observatory oversight and management, developed no meaningful regional or statewide stakeholder processes or planning for the Observatory, nor have they taken the Observatory's original purposes seriously. This vacuum has allowed a small group of local political and business interests to set and dominate the agenda for the Observatory's future.
- The requirements for meeting Dark Sky Park certification were subverted by Goldendale Observatory State Park management and staff - who in lock-step with the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce's opposition to meaningful protection - demonstrated little interest in providing education and advocacy for protection of the Observatory's dark night sky. It was this absence of leadership and "passionate advocacy" which ultimately led to the International Dark Sky Park revocation.
- This revocation came at a time when Washington taxpayers were spending almost 6 million dollars on facility upgrades for the Observatory, including costly enhancements to a telescope that requires a dark night sky for its superb views of the cosmos. Unfortunately, the celestial grandeur the Observatory is meant to explore will continue to suffer from inadequate protection at the local level. This investment will therefore be wasted as the night sky continues to experience ongoing and inevitable - but preventable - degradation.
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By mid-2018 the IDA had certified 100 various Dark Sky Places distributed around the globe.
The Goldendale Observatory State Park is no longer one of them. |
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The details:
With the arrival of Area Manager and Park Ranger Lemuel Pratt in 2013, Washington State Parks failed to provide the leadership needed to advocate for and promote the protection of the Observatory’s unique night sky natural heritage and its privileged status as an International Dark Sky Park. Pratt appears to have little interest in science, let alone astronomy, and Observatory staff revealed that Pratt voiced his personal belief that the universe is only 6000 years old, denied the validity of climate change science, and stated that the International Dark Sky Park designation was part of an “environmentalist agenda” he'd just as soon see "go away." Pratt’s aversion to night sky stewardship and conservation was demonstrated when he failed to ensure that any sign was put up indicating the Observatory had achieved full status as an International Dark Sky Park. Instead, Pratt had a bright blue-white LED flagpole light installed pointing up toward the sky in explicit violation of local lighting codes and in defiance of dark sky protection principles included in the Observatory’s approved Washington State Parks 2010 Lighting Management Plan (see SCRIBD document at bottom).
The IDA took notice of State Park staff’s indifference toward protection of the Dark Sky Park after Pratt hired Troy Carpenter. Carpenter apparently hastily left a highly paid position at Gamesa Technology Corporation in New York in April 2013 before moving 3000 miles away and stumbled into the entry level job as a Washington State Park Aide in May 2013. Pratt then promoted Carpenter to Interpretive Specialist for the Observatory in 2014. Carpenter submitted terse and incomplete annual reports to the IDA two years in a row, and then failed to submit one at all. Carpenter claimed he had not received the reminder notices routinely sent to all Dark Sky Parks, and to which he had responded in the two previous years. This led the IDA to suspend the Observatory’s Dark Sky Park status on November 16, 2016 pending the receipt of a suitable report for further review. With Carpenter’s subsequent late report (SCRIBD article below), he stated his lack of interest in providing Dark Sky Park related activities or required night sky quality measurements. This fundamental lack of interest was previewed years earlier when Carpenter gave away the Sky Quality Meter provided by the IDA in 2010 which was needed to make the required night sky quality measurements. The IDA deemed Carpenter's late report inadequate and kept the suspension in place. Washington State Parks Interpretive Program Manager Ryan Karlson then had to take on the responsibility to rescue the Dark Sky Park status by submitting a more detailed and complete report.
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Despite painting stars on sidewalks, the City of Goldendale and the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce have historically made little effort to ensure the Goldendale Observatory’s “international importance as a leading West Coast observatory” (Mayor Mike Canon, 2016) is maintained by ensuring stars remain visible in the sky.
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The absence of a single night sky friendly outdoor lighting fixture at a local hardware store demonstrates the lack of awareness of the lighting codes for protecting the dark night sky of the Goldendale Observatory. |
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Long-time visitors to the Goldendale Observatory have noticed that light pollution has increased in recent years, and Carpenter himself admitted “there is already too much light pollution from town to get a good view of deep space objects in the southern sky, like the center of our galaxy.” However, just after the IDA’s initial Dark Sky Park suspension, Carpenter told a meeting of Portland, Oregon’s Rose City Astronomers that light pollution was a “low priority” due to being “a politically charged issue and it makes us very unpopular every time we bring it up.” There is no public survey data of any kind to support this bald-faced assertion, but it does reveal Carpenter's obsession with being popular. Even if all 3400 people living in Goldendale made such statements, it would represent less than 10% of the claimed annual visitors to Goldendale Observatory. But nowhere near that many local people visit the Observatory, and the overwhelming numbers of visitors coming from around the world (and probably even Goldendale) likely don’t harbor such sentiments.
What we do know is the topic of light pollution and its reduction was unpopular with Pratt and his associates, and of no interest to Carpenter. For example, in late 2014 a newspaper reporter called the author and proposed meeting to do a story concerning the installation of new city lighting at the Klickitat County Courthouse in Goldendale, which clearly violated both city and county lighting codes. The author suggested including Carpenter, the natural choice to represent the Goldendale Observatory International Dark Sky Park.
In a revealing preview of Carpenter's disinterest in night sky conservation and subsequent unethical behaviors, when asked to assist in coordinating a meeting time with the reporter, Carpenter deliberately had the meeting scheduled on a day the author told Carpenter he could not attend. Pursuing his own self-interest and priorities, Carpenter claimed that after a discussion with the reporter, she had decided to make the story about Carpenter and the "more interesting" upcoming building improvements, and that she was no longer as concerned with the city violating its own lighting codes or light pollution. When contacted regarding this alleged change of topic, the reporter flatly denied such a discussion had taken place, and reiterated that the subject of her reporting would indeed be installation of the non-compliant lighting. Thereafter the meeting was rescheduled in order to elevate the courthouse lighting issue to the public’s attention, and soon afterward the lights were commendably retrofitted with shielding to become more compliant with the existing lighting codes.
While Carpenter’s delinquent 2016 annual report to the IDA paradoxically claimed he provided the “low priority - unpopular” dark sky programs to over 20,000 people the previous year, in reality he lied to the IDA, having failed to provide a single dark sky education program. In fact, Carpenter alleged he was prohibited by Pratt from bringing up any light pollution issues, even when off work on his own time (a violation of the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution and Section 5 of the Washington State Constitution). After the initial Dark Sky Park suspension, and despite the fact that none of Carpenter's three annual reports to the IDA included the required night sky quality measurements or accurate numbers on dark sky education programs (zero), Pratt insisted to the media that the annual reports were complete and accurate, and that light-pollution education was indeed included in the park’s programming.
Shortly thereafter, Karlson's revised annual report to the IDA admitted that no required sky quality measurements had been made after Carpenter took over as Interpretive Specialist, and showed Carpenter's education claims to be deceitful: Karlson stated that Carpenter's dark sky "education" consisted of “once per scheduled program the Silver Tier International Dark Sky Park [designation] was referenced, and questions answered when asked regarding this designation and other dark skies preservation and light pollution related topics.” Emphasis added. Further proof of Carpenter's fraudulent statements to the IDA (and that light pollution topics are not as unpopular as Carpenter would have one believe) is that when he received a request to have a presentation on light pollution, Carpenter stated “We don't normally do presentations specifically on light pollution, but can mention the problem and show some images and time-lapse demonstrating it. This would only be about 5 or 10 minutes worth of material, however, and not something I recommend visiting the observatory at a special time for.”
This so-called dark sky "education" therefore completely failed to meet the IDA's clearly defined and explicit dark sky education program requirements or Washington State Parks previous commitments to the IDA (included in SCRIBD article below). Carpenter was far from merely "following orders" - he in fact was a very willing accomplice: While Carpenter publicly praised the Friends of Goldendale Observatory for their "hard work" towards dark sky education and advocacy in lieu of any of his own at the Rose City Astronomers meeting (and falsely claimed he participated in this education for the annual reports to the IDA), he privately condemned these efforts in writing as a “waste of money”* and “hippie dippy activism.” Although Carpenter grandiosely stated he sees himself as “the next Carl Sagan,” he apparently is unfamiliar with Sagan’s outspoken social and environmental activism.
What we do know is the topic of light pollution and its reduction was unpopular with Pratt and his associates, and of no interest to Carpenter. For example, in late 2014 a newspaper reporter called the author and proposed meeting to do a story concerning the installation of new city lighting at the Klickitat County Courthouse in Goldendale, which clearly violated both city and county lighting codes. The author suggested including Carpenter, the natural choice to represent the Goldendale Observatory International Dark Sky Park.
In a revealing preview of Carpenter's disinterest in night sky conservation and subsequent unethical behaviors, when asked to assist in coordinating a meeting time with the reporter, Carpenter deliberately had the meeting scheduled on a day the author told Carpenter he could not attend. Pursuing his own self-interest and priorities, Carpenter claimed that after a discussion with the reporter, she had decided to make the story about Carpenter and the "more interesting" upcoming building improvements, and that she was no longer as concerned with the city violating its own lighting codes or light pollution. When contacted regarding this alleged change of topic, the reporter flatly denied such a discussion had taken place, and reiterated that the subject of her reporting would indeed be installation of the non-compliant lighting. Thereafter the meeting was rescheduled in order to elevate the courthouse lighting issue to the public’s attention, and soon afterward the lights were commendably retrofitted with shielding to become more compliant with the existing lighting codes.
While Carpenter’s delinquent 2016 annual report to the IDA paradoxically claimed he provided the “low priority - unpopular” dark sky programs to over 20,000 people the previous year, in reality he lied to the IDA, having failed to provide a single dark sky education program. In fact, Carpenter alleged he was prohibited by Pratt from bringing up any light pollution issues, even when off work on his own time (a violation of the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution and Section 5 of the Washington State Constitution). After the initial Dark Sky Park suspension, and despite the fact that none of Carpenter's three annual reports to the IDA included the required night sky quality measurements or accurate numbers on dark sky education programs (zero), Pratt insisted to the media that the annual reports were complete and accurate, and that light-pollution education was indeed included in the park’s programming.
Shortly thereafter, Karlson's revised annual report to the IDA admitted that no required sky quality measurements had been made after Carpenter took over as Interpretive Specialist, and showed Carpenter's education claims to be deceitful: Karlson stated that Carpenter's dark sky "education" consisted of “once per scheduled program the Silver Tier International Dark Sky Park [designation] was referenced, and questions answered when asked regarding this designation and other dark skies preservation and light pollution related topics.” Emphasis added. Further proof of Carpenter's fraudulent statements to the IDA (and that light pollution topics are not as unpopular as Carpenter would have one believe) is that when he received a request to have a presentation on light pollution, Carpenter stated “We don't normally do presentations specifically on light pollution, but can mention the problem and show some images and time-lapse demonstrating it. This would only be about 5 or 10 minutes worth of material, however, and not something I recommend visiting the observatory at a special time for.”
This so-called dark sky "education" therefore completely failed to meet the IDA's clearly defined and explicit dark sky education program requirements or Washington State Parks previous commitments to the IDA (included in SCRIBD article below). Carpenter was far from merely "following orders" - he in fact was a very willing accomplice: While Carpenter publicly praised the Friends of Goldendale Observatory for their "hard work" towards dark sky education and advocacy in lieu of any of his own at the Rose City Astronomers meeting (and falsely claimed he participated in this education for the annual reports to the IDA), he privately condemned these efforts in writing as a “waste of money”* and “hippie dippy activism.” Although Carpenter grandiosely stated he sees himself as “the next Carl Sagan,” he apparently is unfamiliar with Sagan’s outspoken social and environmental activism.
New concrete decking circa 2015.
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Phase 3 Grounds Renovation
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* Speaking of wasting money: Left - Washington taxpayers reportedly spent over $50,000 for a few hundred square feet of new concrete deck and a walkway adjoining the Observatory. This exceptionally expensive concrete was demolished for the new building construction (which was originally scheduled to take place a year or two later). Right - "Phase 3" remodel and expansion. Carpenter states that he is "coordinating facility upgrades and directing Observatory operations." These funds represented an opportunity cost that could have been better expended on additional portable telescopes, new eyepieces and camera equipment, upgraded telescope mount components, permanent night sky monitoring equipment, much needed dome repairs, or a mobile educational outreach van with a portable planetarium...
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Speaking of planetariums; an alternative facility design incorporating a twenty-first century multi-purpose & multi-media planetarium-theater-classroom (top) - which can simulate a star-filled sky even during inclement weather - would have been superior to the mundane classroom (bottom) which was chosen for educational use. Based on other similar facility's costs, a planetarium based theater/classroom may have cost up to 2 million dollars, about one third of the close to 6 million dollar budget for the new construction. Carpenter dismissed a planetarium as not to his liking, and "too expensive." No financials apparently were performed, nor was any qualified astronomy or science education stakeholder input solicited regarding this decision. |
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At his presentation to the Rose City Astronomers, Carpenter claimed that an improved 24-inch telescope mirror made of much more thermally stable fused quartz (recommended by the author years earlier) for the main telescope might cost up to $250,000 - a total fabrication. This claim apparently was made in order to justify the purchase of an ultra-lightweight cellular mirror costing a "discounted" $25,000, which Carpenter boasted is used by NASA for spacecraft. Concerned that the Observatory's telescope would not likely ever be put into Earth orbit, the multiple ongoing production failures, and the large opportunity cost this "NASA mirror" represented, the author "blew the whistle" to the State that optically excellent fused quartz 24-inch telescope mirrors can be obtained for half of what Carpenter was spending on the "NASA" cellular mirror. The State was informed an excellent fused quartz telescope mirror could be produced in Washington State by a highly regarded telescope mirror company that the author also had recommended. A 24-inch fused quartz mirror from this company was subsequently purchased and installed - saving Washington taxpayers over $13,000.
These scenarios demonstrate the need for knowledgeable and qualified consultation and oversight when making important decisions regarding the taxpayer's Observatory and its telescope to avoid potential similar "waste[s] of money."
These scenarios demonstrate the need for knowledgeable and qualified consultation and oversight when making important decisions regarding the taxpayer's Observatory and its telescope to avoid potential similar "waste[s] of money."
DarkSkies Northwest IDA Chapter leader David Ingram, who also attended the Rose City Astronomers presentation, noted that while Carpenter spoke at length about the forthcoming building improvements - and took the opportunity to ridicule his predecessor Stout for his dark sky advocacy efforts - he completely failed to mention that Goldendale Observatory was an International Dark Sky Park. However, on December 30, 2016, Washington State Parks Director Don Hoch assured the IDA that Carpenter’s “low priority” views on light pollution were “not reflective of State Parks position on the issue.” Carpenter apparently didn’t get the memo or chose to ignore it. In April 2017 - while the Dark Sky Park certification remained suspended pending Karlson's revised submission - Carpenter publicly stated “It's true, dark skies are not a high personal priority for me,” again citing what he perceives as the more important capital facilities and building improvements. It is difficult to understand why one would be incompatible with the other, as there are minimal budgetary or time allocation issues in meeting the IDA dark sky programming requirements (see SCRIBD document below). Regardless, at this point the IDA likely had little doubt concerning the sincerity with which Carpenter emphasized his lack of interest in dark sky programming or advocating for the protection for one of the more prestigious International Dark Sky Parks in the world.
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Carpenter personally stated many times his main objective is to make a name for himself before moving on to greener pastures. This may help to explain his lack of interest in long-term night sky protection for the Observatory, the preoccupation with the capital facilities improvements he hopes to take credit for, including the aborted "NASA mirror," emphasis on being "popular," and exaggerating visitor counts. He appears to have issues involving amateur astronomers with the Goldendale Observatory to any significant degree, unlike the National Park Service, which takes dark sky protection, education, and ecotourism seriously.
Despite complaining about "incompetent" ancillary State Park Aides who lack astronomy or telescope familiarity, when the President of the Rose City Astronomers offered to assist with providing volunteers at the Observatory in exchange for off-hours telescope time, Carpenter condescendingly stated the telescope was “not a toy." When RCA member's participation as docents was discussed, Carpenter stated that he didn’t want the Observatory “to become a club house.” These comments are not befitting of these amateur astronomers, many whose decades-long knowledge and abilities in astronomy and handling of sophisticated telescope equipment far exceeds Carpenter's. The reality is that the telescope was originally intended to be available for use by amateur astronomers, and was indeed built by amateurs. However, as will be shown, it's no surprise that Carpenter has convinced his superiors that amateur astronomers are an insignificant visitor constituency, and therefore their concerns, including protecting the Observatory’s night sky, are essentially irrelevant to the Observatory's operation. From Goldendale Observatory's circa 1976 brochure: |
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Sophisticated well-equipped amateur astronomers from Portland, Seattle, and the Tri-Cities could be advantageous as volunteers and docents in helping with Observatory programs and providing additional telescopes and personnel to operate them during peak visitation periods.
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State Park staff appear uninterested in (or perhaps intimidated by) such collaboration, even though participation of amateur astronomer volunteers was originally an integral part of the Observatory operations, and volunteers figure prominently in the State Parks Strategic Plan in order to "leverage resources and make parks welcoming to visitors."
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More troubling, Pratt and Carpenter allied with Goldendale Chamber of Commerce Director Dana Peck in their opposition to promoting meaningful dark sky stewardship measures. Peck, who like Pratt has absolutely no knowledge of astronomy, telescopes, or observatories, has actually been invited as an interviewer on the hiring committee at the Observatory by Pratt. Although Peck champions the Observatory for tourism, he outright rejects enforcement of Goldendale and Klickitat County lighting codes intended to protect the Observatory’s night sky. The Chamber’s value for the Goldendale Observatory was summarized by its Vice President Jonathan Lewis, who equated it to an “amusement park," and when asked about his interest in astronomy stated “the Chamber sees the Observatory as key to getting people to stay at the hotels.”
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The Goldendale Quality Inn Hotel is operated by State Representative Gina Mosbrucker and her family. Mosbrucker is a former VP and Executive Director of the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce. |
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Even though the Observatory has belonged to the State and all its citizens since 1980, in 2003 amateur astronomers not residing in Goldendale or Klickitat County were apparently disparaged by a few locals as “outsiders” due to their advocacy for implementation of long-ignored city and county lighting codes to protect the Observatory’s night sky, especially by those concerned with building of the Calpine (now Puget Sound Energy) gas turbine power plant. According to the Friends President at the time, Peck (then Director of Klickitat County Economic Development) participated in (and per a local reporter takes credit for organizing) a coup of Goldendale locals that removed these amateur astronomers from the Friends Board of Directors, which thereafter left Peck in place as a the Board President. The Friends group was immediately disbanded by Peck and his allies. Peck’s Machiavellian ends-justify-the-means behavior and unwillingness to be an authentic advocate for night-sky protection is therefore well known in the amateur astronomy community.
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Before being shut down by Peck and his associates, Interpretive Specialist Steven Stout and Friends of Goldendale Observatory members met with Calpine officials to help ensure the use of full cutoff ("fully shielded") lighting fixtures which complied with the Goldendale and Klickitat Co. lighting codes. The result is a dramatic reduction in scattered light and resulting skyglow, as seen above on the right compared to the unshielded and partially shielded out-of-compliance lighting fixtures found throughout Goldendale and Klickitat County. Downtown Goldendale in center, Hwy 97 & Simcoe Road business complex on left.
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Instead of Washington State Parks advocating for lighting code compliance for protecting the night sky of the Observatory, it seems Pratt and/or Carpenter influenced Washington State Parks Director Hoch to naively inform the IDA that the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce would be part of a "partnership network" to provide advocacy for regulatory compliance with lighting codes. Under Peck's direction, this is equivalent to stating the Klu Klux Klan will be a partner for promotion of enforcement of anti-discrimination laws - a ludicrous proposition at best.
Moreover, the IDA does not allow the re-assignment or contracting out of the responsibilities required for Dark Sky Park Certification, including that “participants serve as a beacon in their community for stewardship and passionate advocacy for the night sky.” Indeed, the IDA requires "cooperation with at least two nearby municipalities that results in adoption of lighting policies that improve sky conditions in the Park" (emphasis added). One would think this would include encouraging support for regulatory compliance with the existing outdoor lighting codes and best practices, which the IDA considers an important tool for protecting the night sky. Indeed, enforcement of lighting codes is critical to limit the adverse "off-site" impacts of outdoor lighting.
Moreover, the IDA does not allow the re-assignment or contracting out of the responsibilities required for Dark Sky Park Certification, including that “participants serve as a beacon in their community for stewardship and passionate advocacy for the night sky.” Indeed, the IDA requires "cooperation with at least two nearby municipalities that results in adoption of lighting policies that improve sky conditions in the Park" (emphasis added). One would think this would include encouraging support for regulatory compliance with the existing outdoor lighting codes and best practices, which the IDA considers an important tool for protecting the night sky. Indeed, enforcement of lighting codes is critical to limit the adverse "off-site" impacts of outdoor lighting.
Carpenter (who helped to set up the reconstituted Friends group website) admitted that he, Peck, and Lewis – with Pratt's knowledge and approval – conspired in having the Chamber of Commerce take over the Friends website in April 2017. Despite being prohibited from "involvement with or ownership" of the website by Washington State Parks Eastern Region Manager Scott Griffith (who charged Pratt with the execution of this directive), Carpenter publicly stated that from the beginning it was "a policy I had every intention of violating." Carpenter also added that while he initially didn't want to have a Friends group, he came to value the idea "because I needed to have someone to pay for the darn website," which it turned out he indeed secretly owned, adding Region Manager Griffith was "oblivious to the details of it."
Carpenter then eliminated any mention of "controversial" light pollution or dark sky education and conservation information from the website, stating “we certainly don’t want to be directly associated with light pollution mitigation,” and characterized the Friends website's dark sky education as “amateur astronomer pandering.” So while State Parks Director Hock told the IDA that Washington State Parks supported and would be "providing educational experiences that help raise awareness of the impacts of light pollution on this valuable resource - the dark sky experience," Carpenter clearly did not and would not provide this education, either on-site at the Observatory or online via the world wide web.
Carpenter's self-admitted unethical behavior, and public statements regarding light pollution and amateur astronomers, are both disturbing for a public employee and hypocritical given that the Observatory wouldn’t exist without the massive 24-inch telescope built by amateur astronomers, who (along with the community college that owned and paid for it) sought a location outside of the Portland metropolitan area for the telescope in order to get away from light pollution. Apparently expressing the unspoken belief that the facility still somehow should be beholden only to the City of Goldendale/Chamber of Commerce instead of the Washington State citizen and taxpayer (who employs him), Carpenter then stated "the town is the reason the facility exists."
Nonsense. You don't get a United States taxpayer funded 80% Federal grant to build an observatory without having a telescope to put in it. The additional 20% in matching funds were mostly loans which came from commercial banks, and were paid off by Washington State taxpayers when they rescued the facility from bankruptcy. The City of Goldendale's contribution essentially amounted to the 5 acres of public land the Observatory sits on. Therefore the US and Washington State taxpayers are the overwhelming reason the facility exists, which couldn't have happened without the amateur astronomers who built the telescope, and the community college (students and taxpayers) that funded it. Consequently, the Goldendale Observatory was originally intended to equally serve the public, educators and students, and amateur astronomers from across the state and beyond.
While Carpenter’s Goldendale Chamber of Commerce "sponsored" website no longer "panders" to amateur astronomers by discussing "controversial" dark sky or light pollution issues, it does list and link to the local hotels you should stay at. This was a major reason for Peck’s, Lewis's, Pratt's, and Carpenter's hijack of the Friend’s website, and their desire to exclude amateur astronomers from significant involvement with the Observatory: Most amateur astronomers have innate interests in unique and genuine astronomy experiences such as dark skies, and will proactively advocate for them, rather than merely exploiting the Observatory and Carpenter (who Lewis referred to as a "rock star") as attractions for tourism revenues and Discover Pass sales.
There is no better example of this conflict of interest than the Washington State Parks/Goldendale Chamber of Commerce "partnership" encouraging people to travel to Goldendale to witness a garden-variety partial solar eclipse, versus the Friends (and almost every other legitimate astronomy education organization) encouraging people to experience the incredible rare beauty of the August 21, 2017 Great American Total Solar Eclipse - a once-in-a-lifetime event for people lucky enough to see one, and viewable from a mere 50 miles (80 km) south of Goldendale. Carpenter, who raises hyperbole to an art form, called this "monstrous and terribly destructive to the Observatory." He cited the Friends recommendation to see the total eclipse if possible (and less than an hours drive away) as another reason to have the Chamber of Commerce take down the eclipse web-page and take over the Friends website. The Chamber of Commerce was the cover for Carpenter to remove the Friends access to the website Carpenter covertly owns, yet deliberately misled the Friends to believe they owned and had paid for.
For the Carpenter/Washington State Parks/Chamber of Commerce entertainment "partnership" the ends once again justified the means. They rationalized and publicly stated staying at a local motel and eating at Papa John's or McDonald's - instead of experiencing a "the most awe-inspiring spectacle in all of nature" - was and remains the real bottom line. Peck explicitly stated “my job is to try and fill up hotel rooms and restaurant spaces using the observatory as a marketing tool,” and "economic and commercial gain is our priority." A close confidant of Area Manager Pratt, Peck tellingly added "It's State Parks priority." Carpenter immediately interjected "it is our priority – overwhelmingly so. Absolutely." (Emphasis original).
These purely economic exploitation rationales and the near-sighted focus on "amusement park" and "rock star" entertainment experiences - verses "the dark sky experience" - for the Observatory's existence and purpose seem to have led to the Washington State Parks/Goldendale Chamber of Commerce "partnership" to eliminate meaningful consideration of night sky conservation – for an observatory telescope that was deliberately sited in a dark location and meant to literally focus on the natural environment encompassing the entire visible universe. They appear to embody both a conflict of interest and to be out of sync with the stated mission and core values of Washington State Parks, which importantly include providing stewardship for Washington’s cherished natural heritage for future generations.
Carpenter then eliminated any mention of "controversial" light pollution or dark sky education and conservation information from the website, stating “we certainly don’t want to be directly associated with light pollution mitigation,” and characterized the Friends website's dark sky education as “amateur astronomer pandering.” So while State Parks Director Hock told the IDA that Washington State Parks supported and would be "providing educational experiences that help raise awareness of the impacts of light pollution on this valuable resource - the dark sky experience," Carpenter clearly did not and would not provide this education, either on-site at the Observatory or online via the world wide web.
Carpenter's self-admitted unethical behavior, and public statements regarding light pollution and amateur astronomers, are both disturbing for a public employee and hypocritical given that the Observatory wouldn’t exist without the massive 24-inch telescope built by amateur astronomers, who (along with the community college that owned and paid for it) sought a location outside of the Portland metropolitan area for the telescope in order to get away from light pollution. Apparently expressing the unspoken belief that the facility still somehow should be beholden only to the City of Goldendale/Chamber of Commerce instead of the Washington State citizen and taxpayer (who employs him), Carpenter then stated "the town is the reason the facility exists."
Nonsense. You don't get a United States taxpayer funded 80% Federal grant to build an observatory without having a telescope to put in it. The additional 20% in matching funds were mostly loans which came from commercial banks, and were paid off by Washington State taxpayers when they rescued the facility from bankruptcy. The City of Goldendale's contribution essentially amounted to the 5 acres of public land the Observatory sits on. Therefore the US and Washington State taxpayers are the overwhelming reason the facility exists, which couldn't have happened without the amateur astronomers who built the telescope, and the community college (students and taxpayers) that funded it. Consequently, the Goldendale Observatory was originally intended to equally serve the public, educators and students, and amateur astronomers from across the state and beyond.
While Carpenter’s Goldendale Chamber of Commerce "sponsored" website no longer "panders" to amateur astronomers by discussing "controversial" dark sky or light pollution issues, it does list and link to the local hotels you should stay at. This was a major reason for Peck’s, Lewis's, Pratt's, and Carpenter's hijack of the Friend’s website, and their desire to exclude amateur astronomers from significant involvement with the Observatory: Most amateur astronomers have innate interests in unique and genuine astronomy experiences such as dark skies, and will proactively advocate for them, rather than merely exploiting the Observatory and Carpenter (who Lewis referred to as a "rock star") as attractions for tourism revenues and Discover Pass sales.
There is no better example of this conflict of interest than the Washington State Parks/Goldendale Chamber of Commerce "partnership" encouraging people to travel to Goldendale to witness a garden-variety partial solar eclipse, versus the Friends (and almost every other legitimate astronomy education organization) encouraging people to experience the incredible rare beauty of the August 21, 2017 Great American Total Solar Eclipse - a once-in-a-lifetime event for people lucky enough to see one, and viewable from a mere 50 miles (80 km) south of Goldendale. Carpenter, who raises hyperbole to an art form, called this "monstrous and terribly destructive to the Observatory." He cited the Friends recommendation to see the total eclipse if possible (and less than an hours drive away) as another reason to have the Chamber of Commerce take down the eclipse web-page and take over the Friends website. The Chamber of Commerce was the cover for Carpenter to remove the Friends access to the website Carpenter covertly owns, yet deliberately misled the Friends to believe they owned and had paid for.
For the Carpenter/Washington State Parks/Chamber of Commerce entertainment "partnership" the ends once again justified the means. They rationalized and publicly stated staying at a local motel and eating at Papa John's or McDonald's - instead of experiencing a "the most awe-inspiring spectacle in all of nature" - was and remains the real bottom line. Peck explicitly stated “my job is to try and fill up hotel rooms and restaurant spaces using the observatory as a marketing tool,” and "economic and commercial gain is our priority." A close confidant of Area Manager Pratt, Peck tellingly added "It's State Parks priority." Carpenter immediately interjected "it is our priority – overwhelmingly so. Absolutely." (Emphasis original).
These purely economic exploitation rationales and the near-sighted focus on "amusement park" and "rock star" entertainment experiences - verses "the dark sky experience" - for the Observatory's existence and purpose seem to have led to the Washington State Parks/Goldendale Chamber of Commerce "partnership" to eliminate meaningful consideration of night sky conservation – for an observatory telescope that was deliberately sited in a dark location and meant to literally focus on the natural environment encompassing the entire visible universe. They appear to embody both a conflict of interest and to be out of sync with the stated mission and core values of Washington State Parks, which importantly include providing stewardship for Washington’s cherished natural heritage for future generations.
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More often than not, a clear majority of the public favors protecting the natural environment over economic concerns. Washington State Parks and Goldendale Observatory staff – rather than capitalize on these sentiments and the potential for dark-sky tourism and night sky conservation – have been short-sighted concerning their 'no environmental advocacy' position. Indeed, aligning themselves with and being subservient to the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce, they have inverted these priorities.
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Who better to stress the importance of preserving and protecting the Observatory's - and moreover an International Dark Sky Park's - starry night sky than those directly overseeing it? Yet not only wouldn’t Pratt or Carpenter speak up for protecting the Observatory’s night sky – a formal written commitment made by Washington State Parks to the IDA in 2010 – they self-admittedly are in bed with Peck who opposes its meaningful protection via application of longstanding local lighting codes.
In Goldendale City Council Lighting Task Force meetings, if he attended, Pratt either remained silent (often sitting alongside an equally mute Peck) or disavowed support for proposed lighting code improvements to better protect the night sky of the Goldendale Observatory – all the while stating he was being “neutral.” Notwithstanding Pratt's "neutrality" position, to be an IDA Dark Sky Park requires advocacy for protecting the night sky, not "neutrality." Pratt also stated that he and Carpenter were prohibited from expressing views promoting protection of the Observatory's night sky because they were politically sensitive “policy” issues. This conflicts with Washington State Law, which states “employees of the state…shall have the right to express their opinions on all political subjects...” RCW 41.06.250. Pratt similarly stated he was unable to discuss lighting code issues with elected officials, in contravention of RCW 42.52.8022, which specifically allows for “informational and educational meetings regarding legislative issues.”
Local business interests on the Lighting Task Force noted that “the Observatory has made it clear they’re happy with the way things are, and aren’t concerned with the existing amount of light [pollution].” As a result, the City of Goldendale’s Lighting Task Force removed many essential best-practice provisions – adapted from other successful Dark Sky Communities such as Dripping Springs Texas (population 3100) – which were included in the original revised lighting code draft. These best practices have since become minimum requirements for Dark Sky Community lighting ordinances.
In Goldendale City Council Lighting Task Force meetings, if he attended, Pratt either remained silent (often sitting alongside an equally mute Peck) or disavowed support for proposed lighting code improvements to better protect the night sky of the Goldendale Observatory – all the while stating he was being “neutral.” Notwithstanding Pratt's "neutrality" position, to be an IDA Dark Sky Park requires advocacy for protecting the night sky, not "neutrality." Pratt also stated that he and Carpenter were prohibited from expressing views promoting protection of the Observatory's night sky because they were politically sensitive “policy” issues. This conflicts with Washington State Law, which states “employees of the state…shall have the right to express their opinions on all political subjects...” RCW 41.06.250. Pratt similarly stated he was unable to discuss lighting code issues with elected officials, in contravention of RCW 42.52.8022, which specifically allows for “informational and educational meetings regarding legislative issues.”
Local business interests on the Lighting Task Force noted that “the Observatory has made it clear they’re happy with the way things are, and aren’t concerned with the existing amount of light [pollution].” As a result, the City of Goldendale’s Lighting Task Force removed many essential best-practice provisions – adapted from other successful Dark Sky Communities such as Dripping Springs Texas (population 3100) – which were included in the original revised lighting code draft. These best practices have since become minimum requirements for Dark Sky Community lighting ordinances.
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The first Dark Sky Community. Flagstaff Arizona is a city of over 70,000 people, but because of their well-regulated lighting, skies are dark enough to see the Milky Way from downtown. Regulation of outdoor lighting practices are essential to protect the night sky of the famous nearby historic Lowell Observatory, and also make the city a more pleasing place to live in and visit. |
“Downtown Flagstaff” Mehmedinovic & Heffernan SKYGLOW
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Karlson's May 31, 2017 Revised 2016 Annual Dark Sky Park Report to the IDA did finally contain the required night-sky quality readings. However, these readings were so poor that two out of three indicated the Observatory no longer met any Dark Sky Park classification, while one other showed a Bronze level versus the Silver level the Observatory was certified at. The report states “Observatory staff” (Carpenter) obtained the measurements, which also likely required taxpayers to purchase a new $135 Sky Quality Meter to replace the identical one Carpenter had given away years earlier.
The IDA found that these readings were contradicted by satellite data, and subsequent independent on-site ground measurements showed the Goldendale Observatory still meets the original Silver Tier Dark Sky Park criteria for overhead night-sky quality. The IDA euphemistically attributed the anomalous sky quality data to "pilot error," which would be amazing for such a simple to use device - point overhead, push button, read number, done.
The IDA found that these readings were contradicted by satellite data, and subsequent independent on-site ground measurements showed the Goldendale Observatory still meets the original Silver Tier Dark Sky Park criteria for overhead night-sky quality. The IDA euphemistically attributed the anomalous sky quality data to "pilot error," which would be amazing for such a simple to use device - point overhead, push button, read number, done.
Washington State Parks
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In addition to submitting inaccurate data and misleading/false reports to the International Dark-Sky Association, Carpenter published manipulated pictures of the night sky at the Observatory. Note the caption "with tungsten white balance,” which refers to a process to correct for “warm” lighting and renders a bluer “daylight” color to photos taken indoors with incandescent (tungsten filament) lighting. Observe how blue the night sky appears in Carpenter’s online published photograph (upper picture). This appears intended to convey to the public the Observatory’s southern sky quality by changing the appearance of the amount of light pollution from Goldendale and surrounding Klickitat County. Using a similar technique for correcting color balance, a more realistic portrayal of the night sky - and light pollution - can be reestablished for the photo and the appearance of the night sky (bottom). Note the sky is a more neutral grey-black, not bright blue, the pink glow of ionized Hydrogen gas in the Milky Way has been restored, and the aircraft warning lights on distant wind turbines are corrected to being their real orange-red color instead of pink. |
Carpenter's self-declared lack of interest in meeting Dark Sky Park certification requirements and publicly voiced antipathy for allegedly "unpopular" dark sky education, combined with Area Manger Pratt's opposition to dark sky conservation advocacy - and who allegedly wished to make the Dark Sky Park designation "go away" - makes deliberate malfeasance a more realistic explanation for the poor readings (likely taken with interfering moonlight, during twilight, near parking lot lights or other artificial light sources). Moreover, despite their importance, the fact that these completely erroneous sky quality readings were submitted to the IDA without apparent concern or review again reveals the lack of any responsible managerial or astronomy related expertise overseeing the Observatory. Ironically, Carpenter later stated he had been rewarded by State Parks with a new title of "Observatory Administrator" and given a pay increase.
Demonstrating a 38 year failure to consider, let alone adopt or implement a coherent night sky conservation management strategy for the taxpayer's substantial investment in a public observatory, Washington State Parks officials also put forth conflicting statements on the importance of preserving the Goldendale Observatory’s essential night sky quality asset:
In an April 2017 newspaper interview and his revised 2016 annual report to the IDA, Interpretive Program Manager Ryan Karlson commendably stated “Preserving the dark sky at the Goldendale Observatory is part of our mission… We will promote the value of preserving our dark skies and support educational outreach to reduce the impacts of light pollution and other threats to this vulnerable natural resource.” (Emphasis added).
However, months later on August 2, 2017 (and immediately preceding IDA deliberations on the status of the Observatory's Dark Sky Park designation), Partnership & Planning Manager Steve Brand directly contradicted Karlson when he stated “State Parks supports the dark sky concept, but it isn’t our mission.” (Emphasis added). Note the use of the word "concept." Brand then required the Friends to remove dark sky education outreach activity from their annual Operating Plan, stating “it isn’t part of operating the park.”
Making such a statement for an observatory, let alone a Certified International Dark Sky Park long promoted as "famous for its dark skies" and “a perfect star-gazing spot,” is truly dumbfounding. The IDA was doubtlessly not impressed, especially as Carpenter continued his failure to provide dark sky education programs at the International Dark Sky Park.
The decades-long lack of a well developed and clearly articulated position or policy regarding the importance of conserving a dark night sky for the Observatory and its telescope - and the reason for its existence - transmitted through formal and informal channels to all levels of the organizational hierarchy, has therefore apparently resulted in helter-skelter statements about the subject. Washington State Parks personnel therefore have difficulty determining whether the Observatory's dark night sky is:
1. Some sort of highfalutin, "low priority" "concept," which only interests "hippy dippy activists," and which education and advocacy for conservation amounts to little more than "unpopular amateur astronomer pandering."
2. A "vulnerable natural resource" for which education and conservation advocacy takes place as part of the mission to provide stewardship for Washington's cherished natural heritage for future generations.
Public disclosure requests to Washington State Parks reveal that in the end the IDA concluded that State Parks “local management and staff have not shown sufficient commitment to the maintenance of the designation through words or actions.” The IDA observed that Washington State Parks failed to “exert supervision of Park managers or their staff,” and was “unable to change the [organizational] culture at the Park.” The IDA went on to state it “recognizes the interest of WSPRC in maintaining the Dark Sky Park designation for GOSP,” but remained “unconvinced that the desire is reflected locally at the Park or in the community of Goldendale.”
Regardless of the obviously erroneous sky quality measurements supplied by Carpenter, the IDA revoked the Dark Sky Park certification of Goldendale Observatory on September 30, 2017 due to “failing to meet the requirements for Dark Sky Park status," not a loss of dark sky quality, which has been suggested by some State Parks personnel. Based on independent data provided by the Friends of the Goldendale Observatory (see SCRIBD article below), the facility still met the original Silver tier level of overhead sky quality (and remains relatively pristine to the west, north, and east). Had Carpenter and Pratt been unsuccessful in their efforts to make the Dark Sky Park "go away" during the interim suspension period, it would have been fully reinstated under the IDA criteria in effect in 2010, and "grandfathered" when subsequent criteria became applicable. However, given the revised 2018 IDA requirements for Dark Sky Parks that "any light domes present are dim, restricted in extent, and close to the horizon," it may be questionable if an International Dark Sky Park designation could now be re-established for the GOSP without a significant reduction in the light pollution coming from Goldendale and surrounding Klickitat County.
Demonstrating a 38 year failure to consider, let alone adopt or implement a coherent night sky conservation management strategy for the taxpayer's substantial investment in a public observatory, Washington State Parks officials also put forth conflicting statements on the importance of preserving the Goldendale Observatory’s essential night sky quality asset:
In an April 2017 newspaper interview and his revised 2016 annual report to the IDA, Interpretive Program Manager Ryan Karlson commendably stated “Preserving the dark sky at the Goldendale Observatory is part of our mission… We will promote the value of preserving our dark skies and support educational outreach to reduce the impacts of light pollution and other threats to this vulnerable natural resource.” (Emphasis added).
However, months later on August 2, 2017 (and immediately preceding IDA deliberations on the status of the Observatory's Dark Sky Park designation), Partnership & Planning Manager Steve Brand directly contradicted Karlson when he stated “State Parks supports the dark sky concept, but it isn’t our mission.” (Emphasis added). Note the use of the word "concept." Brand then required the Friends to remove dark sky education outreach activity from their annual Operating Plan, stating “it isn’t part of operating the park.”
Making such a statement for an observatory, let alone a Certified International Dark Sky Park long promoted as "famous for its dark skies" and “a perfect star-gazing spot,” is truly dumbfounding. The IDA was doubtlessly not impressed, especially as Carpenter continued his failure to provide dark sky education programs at the International Dark Sky Park.
The decades-long lack of a well developed and clearly articulated position or policy regarding the importance of conserving a dark night sky for the Observatory and its telescope - and the reason for its existence - transmitted through formal and informal channels to all levels of the organizational hierarchy, has therefore apparently resulted in helter-skelter statements about the subject. Washington State Parks personnel therefore have difficulty determining whether the Observatory's dark night sky is:
1. Some sort of highfalutin, "low priority" "concept," which only interests "hippy dippy activists," and which education and advocacy for conservation amounts to little more than "unpopular amateur astronomer pandering."
2. A "vulnerable natural resource" for which education and conservation advocacy takes place as part of the mission to provide stewardship for Washington's cherished natural heritage for future generations.
Public disclosure requests to Washington State Parks reveal that in the end the IDA concluded that State Parks “local management and staff have not shown sufficient commitment to the maintenance of the designation through words or actions.” The IDA observed that Washington State Parks failed to “exert supervision of Park managers or their staff,” and was “unable to change the [organizational] culture at the Park.” The IDA went on to state it “recognizes the interest of WSPRC in maintaining the Dark Sky Park designation for GOSP,” but remained “unconvinced that the desire is reflected locally at the Park or in the community of Goldendale.”
Regardless of the obviously erroneous sky quality measurements supplied by Carpenter, the IDA revoked the Dark Sky Park certification of Goldendale Observatory on September 30, 2017 due to “failing to meet the requirements for Dark Sky Park status," not a loss of dark sky quality, which has been suggested by some State Parks personnel. Based on independent data provided by the Friends of the Goldendale Observatory (see SCRIBD article below), the facility still met the original Silver tier level of overhead sky quality (and remains relatively pristine to the west, north, and east). Had Carpenter and Pratt been unsuccessful in their efforts to make the Dark Sky Park "go away" during the interim suspension period, it would have been fully reinstated under the IDA criteria in effect in 2010, and "grandfathered" when subsequent criteria became applicable. However, given the revised 2018 IDA requirements for Dark Sky Parks that "any light domes present are dim, restricted in extent, and close to the horizon," it may be questionable if an International Dark Sky Park designation could now be re-established for the GOSP without a significant reduction in the light pollution coming from Goldendale and surrounding Klickitat County.
Unregulated outdoor lighting significantly deteriorates the southern sky of the Goldendale Observatory State Park.
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As seen from Observatory Hill in this enhanced all-sky “fish-eye” lens image, light pollution rivaling the brightness of the Milky Way can be detected up to 40 degrees in altitude above the southern horizon, and spans more than 90 degrees along the horizon. Without good outdoor lighting practices and regulation enforcement, this situation will only become worse.
Properly installed shielded lighting and enforcement of the existing outdoor lighting regulations - as was originally intended - could remove 50% of this light pollution. Improving the lighting codes to regulate the color temperature (“spectrum”) and lumens per area (“amount”) could reduce this even further.
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Did the Washington State Parks & Recreation Commission come to believe that advocating for conservation and protection of the Observatory's night sky isn’t worth the trouble it could cause with a small group of local political and business interests? Would they feel that way if a State Park mountain lake and its pristine yet vulnerable spring waters were being irrevocably degraded and its fish harmed by water pollution from a small nearby town, despite the presence of water pollution regulations specifically intended to protect it? What about providing stewardship for Washington’s cherished natural heritage for future generations?
Light pollution coming from Goldendale less than 2 miles away and Klickitat County beyond reflects off the main dome of the Goldendale Observatory's 24-inch telescope, and completely obscures the center of the Milky Way.
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Goldendale Observatory State Park
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One would expect a State agency with a core value of "involving the public in our policy development and decision making," and spending millions of taxpayer dollars on its unique public Observatory, to solicit guidance from a broad community of experts in astronomy as well as a wide variety of stakeholders from across the State when considering proactive stewardship for a State Park “famous for its dark skies.” Instead, acting unilaterally and without any public input, Washington State Parks personnel have shown they will only do what they are familiar with, and convenient for their bureaucracy and acceptable by local special interests.
Washington State Parks original promises to meet Dark Sky Park requirements and responsibly educate and advocate for conservation of the public's night sky "vulnerable natural resource" outside the boundaries of a State Park, and protect the taxpayers observatory and telescope investment, apparently makes some Washington State Parks personnel squeamish. Instead, they seem to believe that merely installing dark-sky friendly lighting at the Observatory was their only obligation to be considered an International Dark Sky Park -- as if protecting the five acres of night sky immediately above the Observatory could actually accomplish meaningful "stewardship" for the night sky. Demonstrating a complete breakdown of public accountability, instead of providing stewardship advocacy for future generations of Washington's "cherished" and "vulnerable" dark sky natural resource heritage, the Goldendale Observatory management and staff instead are preoccupied with promoting themselves and the economic and commercial gain of a small group of local businesses interests, as Carpenter himself emphasized: "it is our priority – overwhelmingly so. Absolutely."
Washington State Parks original promises to meet Dark Sky Park requirements and responsibly educate and advocate for conservation of the public's night sky "vulnerable natural resource" outside the boundaries of a State Park, and protect the taxpayers observatory and telescope investment, apparently makes some Washington State Parks personnel squeamish. Instead, they seem to believe that merely installing dark-sky friendly lighting at the Observatory was their only obligation to be considered an International Dark Sky Park -- as if protecting the five acres of night sky immediately above the Observatory could actually accomplish meaningful "stewardship" for the night sky. Demonstrating a complete breakdown of public accountability, instead of providing stewardship advocacy for future generations of Washington's "cherished" and "vulnerable" dark sky natural resource heritage, the Goldendale Observatory management and staff instead are preoccupied with promoting themselves and the economic and commercial gain of a small group of local businesses interests, as Carpenter himself emphasized: "it is our priority – overwhelmingly so. Absolutely."
These interests include Goldendale native and Washington State Representative Gina Mosbrucker and her family, which owns a number of Goldendale businesses (Quality Inn Hotel, Chevron gas station, and Papa John’s Pizza). Mosbrucker is a fifth generation resident of Goldendale, a former VP and Executive Director of the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce, and the CEO and General Manager of the Quality Inn Hotel in Goldendale. Mosbrucker's political mantra includes "government regulations have become out-of-control," and she pledges to “ease onerous and burdensome government regulations” and “fight against increased regulations… on business’ (sic).”
It therefore came as no surprise that Mosbrucker met with her sister, Angela (Mosbrucker) Hoffman – an accountant who also oversees the family businesses – regarding much needed proposed lighting code improvements. Hoffman thereafter demanded that a local "Lighting Task Force" be formed. Of course the Mayor (who had succeeded Peck as the Director of Klickitat County Economic Development) hand-picked the Task Force members, the majority of which had little knowledge of astronomy, outdoor lighting best practices, or Dark Sky Park conservation requirements. Hoffman was appointed to the Task Force and argued with zeal and egregious misinformation* against many of the best-practice improvements that had been incorporated to better protect the night sky. Mosbrucker's father, Klickitat County PUD Commissioner Ray Mosbrucker, made a cameo at a Lighting Task Force meeting to confer with his daughter, after which she reminded everyone present that Pratt and the Observatory were not the ones advocating for lighting code changes. This might lead one to ask how Mosbrucker senior knew, and appears to reveal another bit of evidence about Pratt's so-called "neutrality." Several important and much needed improvements (which subsequent to the Goldendale Observatory decertification have now become IDA lighting ordinance requirements) were removed from the final revised Goldendale lighting code.
Chromatic Adaptation - white always looks white.
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* For example, Hoffman stated a 3000 K color temperature requirement ("warm white") would "make it impossible to tell the difference between spilled coffee, oil, or blood" - a blatant misrepresentation, since even incandescent lights (2700 K) make such an argument utter nonsense. Despite presenting scientific facts to the Lighting Task Force about chromatic adaptation, the 3000 K requirement for new outdoor lighting was removed, in spite of it being the standard adopted for Goldendale's new LED street lights. Of course, service station lighting is purposefully designed to be excessive and "sparkly" with more human health and sky-damaging blue wavelengths in order to attract motorists like moths. Coincidentally, Hoffman and her husband own and operate the local Chevron station.
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Light pollution is one of the easiest environmental problems to fix, and will usually pay for itself in the long run through increased energy efficiency and electricity bill savings, as well as enhancing effectiveness, safety, and visual appeal. Goldendale's 2017 revised lighting code admirably requires use of full cutoff ("fully shielded") fixtures, and the use of motion sensors and timers for non and partially shielded outdoor lighting. However it has not been promoted or enforced, and has an excessive seven year "grandfathering" clause. Given the 40 years worth of pre-existing non-compliant lighting already present, the ordinance changes are inadequate to restore the night sky to what it could and should be. For example, thanks to business community objections, the Lighting Task Force eliminated well established best-practice provisions that would control excessive illumination via lumen limitations based on use or area, and established standards for illuminated outdoor sign lighting in order to reduce glare, over-lighting, and skyglow.
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Worse than an unshielded streetlight. The specific exemption for internally-illuminated outdoor signs is a good example of the business community’s unwillingness to be regulated for these sources of light pollution. No serious dark sky ordinance includes such an exemption. The average citizen, if required to comply with good outdoor lighting practices, and observing that businesses are not held to similar standards for their outdoor signs, might question night sky protection requirements due to the double-standard contained within the revised lighting code.
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While the Goldendale Chamber's business interests provide lip service for supporting the Observatory, it is little wonder that local lighting codes have rarely been applied in practice within Goldendale or Klickitat County.* While a Dark Sky Park designation can enhance tourism, local business and political interests apparently can’t be bothered with pesky regulations to actually protect the dark night sky heritage nature has provided, which was a main reason the telescope was sited away from Portland/Vancouver. Once again demonstrating it is beholden only to these local political/business interest and has little regard for night sky conservation nor the Washington taxpayer, the City of Goldendale has stated Peck and the Chamber of Commerce will be their lead representative with Washington State Parks in a potential future effort to re-designate the Goldendale Observatory as a Dark Sky Park. This reality is also reflected by the total lack of any mention of the importance of night sky conservation or information about the city and county lighting codes on the Goldendale Chamber's website. Local political and business interests apparently continue to view the Observatory only as a "marketing tool" for "economic and commercial gain," and are content to ignore its need for long-term night sky conservation and sustainability.**
* Klickitat County remains the only one within the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area not to have adopted development regulations to protect and enhance the scenic values of this national treasure.
** Ditto for the City, County, and Observatory itself - for which the the importance of night sky conservation and lighting code enforcement should be publicly articulated regardless of the presence - or lack of - a Dark Sky Park designation:
* Klickitat County remains the only one within the beautiful Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area not to have adopted development regulations to protect and enhance the scenic values of this national treasure.
** Ditto for the City, County, and Observatory itself - for which the the importance of night sky conservation and lighting code enforcement should be publicly articulated regardless of the presence - or lack of - a Dark Sky Park designation:
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“Light pollution from Goldendale, Wash. floods the sky on a cloudy night at the Goldendale Observatory State Park on Tuesday, Dec 9, 2014. The observatory, run by the Washington State Parks, is a dark sky destination for people from around the region, and is the only public observatory in the Northwest.”
Associated Press Photo: Mason Trinca/Yakima Herald-Republic |
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The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission understandably has no familiarity with astronomical facilities, yet has failed to involve any truly knowledgeable and qualified expertise or broad-based guidance for this unique astronomical asset. It therefore has not provided appropriate oversight for the development of best-practice management priorities – such as the need for the conservation of a dark night sky required for such a valuable astronomy resource of "international importance." Consequently no strategic vision or mission appears to have been established for the Observatory, which has led to the failure to properly define and develop goals and objectives that meet priorities on behalf of the public’s interests. In this vacuum, the organizational culture of the State Park has been influenced by the opportunistic self-serving interests of the local staff and the local political-business community, while the broader interests of the public and taxpayers of Washington have been abandoned.
Your tax dollars down the drain?
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Instead of educating and advocating for meaningful stewardship and conservation of the night sky natural heritage and taxpayer investments in a telescope and observatory benefiting the larger public interest, Washington State Parks personnel state they "overwhelmingly" and "absolutely" support the Goldendale Chamber of Commerce's explicitly stated position that the Observatory is a socialized "amusement park" and "marketing tool" for the greater financial gain of a small group of local hotel, gas station, and restaurant owners - who seemingly couldn’t care less about the Observatory's purpose or the rare beauty of a dark night sky. Washington taxpayers are tragically being left holding the bag with a very costly Observatory, and a telescope with increasingly degraded views of the wonders in the night sky for which it was originally intended:
In 1971 Clark College had the wisdom to seek "the professional advice of astronomers" when it came to needing to protect the proposed observatory's night sky from the town's lights - something Washington State Parks seems incapable of or unwilling to do. From this came the recommendation - and subsequent promise by Goldendale and Klickitat County - to protect the telescope's night sky through lighting ordinances to limit and reduce light pollution.
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The dedicated and generous amateur astronomers who built the Goldendale Observatory’s massive 24-inch telescope have been betrayed. Decades of non-enforcement of Goldendale and Klickitat County lighting codes have resulted in the Observatory’s southern sky slowly brightening year after year. Views of many splendid astronomical marvels in the southern part of the sky are now becoming muddied, and the full grandeur of the Milky Way is being increasingly veiled by the faint glow of artificial light: 
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The revocation of Goldendale Observatory State Park's status as an International Dark Sky Park was a self-inflicted black eye for Goldendale, Klickitat County, and Washington State. A Dark Sky Park designation is an ongoing privilege that needs to be continuously earned. There are many communities and public state and national parks expressing genuine interest in being designated Dark Sky Places and which sincerely want and appear to meet the education and protection advocacy requirements for such a designation. The Goldendale Observatory’s lack of interest in promoting the conservation of its “perfect for stargazing” and "famous" night sky, combined with the decades-long lack of protection of the Observatory’s night sky by Goldendale and Klickitat County through lighting code enforcement, unarguably demonstrates the Goldendale Observatory State Park and the local community were no longer deserving of the prestigious privilege of being home to an International Dark Sky Park.
Nonetheless, while acting appropriately to protect the integrity of its Dark Sky Places Program, the IDA graciously left open the possibility for re-designation of the Goldendale Observatory. The IDA has a relatively long association with Goldendale Observatory and appears to wish to encourage positive steps to fulfill Dark Sky Park principles in Washington.
In order to conserve and protect its dark sky natural heritage, Washington State Parks would have to lead by example and reverse their resistance to advocacy for conservation and protection of the Goldendale Observatory’s vulnerable and threatened night sky. Without such "passionate advocacy," the City of Goldendale and Klickitat County appear incapable of doing the right thing by acting to improve or enforce the lighting codes they promised and adopted over 40 years ago to protect the Observatory's "valuable dark sky experience." Such action to conserve and protect the Observatory's night sky needs to be taken - before it becomes too late.
The revocation of Goldendale Observatory State Park's status as an International Dark Sky Park was a self-inflicted black eye for Goldendale, Klickitat County, and Washington State. A Dark Sky Park designation is an ongoing privilege that needs to be continuously earned. There are many communities and public state and national parks expressing genuine interest in being designated Dark Sky Places and which sincerely want and appear to meet the education and protection advocacy requirements for such a designation. The Goldendale Observatory’s lack of interest in promoting the conservation of its “perfect for stargazing” and "famous" night sky, combined with the decades-long lack of protection of the Observatory’s night sky by Goldendale and Klickitat County through lighting code enforcement, unarguably demonstrates the Goldendale Observatory State Park and the local community were no longer deserving of the prestigious privilege of being home to an International Dark Sky Park.
Nonetheless, while acting appropriately to protect the integrity of its Dark Sky Places Program, the IDA graciously left open the possibility for re-designation of the Goldendale Observatory. The IDA has a relatively long association with Goldendale Observatory and appears to wish to encourage positive steps to fulfill Dark Sky Park principles in Washington.
In order to conserve and protect its dark sky natural heritage, Washington State Parks would have to lead by example and reverse their resistance to advocacy for conservation and protection of the Goldendale Observatory’s vulnerable and threatened night sky. Without such "passionate advocacy," the City of Goldendale and Klickitat County appear incapable of doing the right thing by acting to improve or enforce the lighting codes they promised and adopted over 40 years ago to protect the Observatory's "valuable dark sky experience." Such action to conserve and protect the Observatory's night sky needs to be taken - before it becomes too late.
Citizens, taxpayers, and the public concerned with how their State Observatory is being managed and cared for can contact the following:
Washington State Senators and Representatives
Washington State Parks & Recreation Commissioners (360) 902-8502 commission@parks.wa.gov
City of Goldendale
Klickitat County Board of Commissioners
Washington State Senators and Representatives
Washington State Parks & Recreation Commissioners (360) 902-8502 commission@parks.wa.gov
City of Goldendale
Klickitat County Board of Commissioners
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Bob Yoesle, past President of the Friends of Goldendale Observatory, holds a magna cum laude Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Communication, and an Associate's degree in Natural Sciences. He also is a life-long amateur astronomer, telescope equipment designer and maker, and cares passionately about conserving the rapidly disappearing natural beauty of the night sky for future generations. He believes the original purposes of the Goldendale Observatory should be fulfilled, which were predicated on providing the telescope with a clear and truly dark night sky.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author, and may not represent those of the IDA, or their affiliates and members. |
