Sequim Gazette staff

The Coastal Watershed Institute, Earth Economics, Clallam County and partners are sponsoring a series of public forums to introduce work defining the economic value of nearshore ecosystems and services they provide to Clallam County.

Dave Batker, Tracy Stanton and Lola Flores of Earth Economics present information about natural capital accounting, ecosystem services and the valuation of the Clallam County nearshore.

The first will be two, two-hour sessions during the afternoon and evening of Dec. 5 and introduce the basics of Ecosystem Services Valuation and then work through the mechanics of these tools to quantify the economic value of specific services in Clallam County.

The third session is Dec. 6, providing an overview presentation of Ecosystem Services of the central Strait of Juan de Fuca to the Ecosystem Recovery Network.

The sessions, by date and time are (Note: All sessions in Clallam County commissioners boardroom at the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. Fourth St., Port Angeles):

• Dec. 5

2-4 p.m. — Clallam County Ecosystem Services Valuation (ESV) overview and technical work sessions for Clallam County staff, elected officers and general public.

6-8 p.m. — ESV introduction, overview and work session for general public. Emphasis is on nearshore bluff systems.

• Dec. 6

11:25 a.m.-12:45 p.m. — Central Strait Ecosystem Services Valuation Pilot Project Results and next steps

Funding for the series is provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, Surfrider Foundation, Patagonia and the Coastal Watershed Institute.

For more information, see www.coastalwatershedinstitute.org, call Nicole Harris at 460-5092 or e-mail to: nicole.harris@coastalwatershedinsitute.org.