Webinar: "Incorporating Ecosystem Services in Optimization Strategies for TMDLs"

Greetings Ecosystem Commons!

Please join us Wednesday, June 27, 2012 from 1:00 -- 2:30 PM EDT for a webinar entitled "Incorporating Ecosystem Services in Optimization Strategies for TMDLs".  Dr. George Van Houtven of RTI International will present research developed in collaboration with US EPA ORD's Ecosystem Services Research Program (ESRP).

Background:

The ESRP has developed, under the direction of Dr. Jay Messer (retired) and Dr. Lisa Wainger, an analytic framework for assessing the cost effectiveness of alternative TMDL design and implementation strategies. The work focuses on evaluating the least-cost mix of green and gray infrastructure that achieves the TMDLs and how the mix changes if ecosystem service benefits are considered to offset costs.  Cost curves were derived for a representative set of nutrient and sediment control practices and they incorporate spatial variability of practice costs, effectiveness, and implementation capacity.

While the focus of this work was the Chesapeake Bay TMDL issuance of Dec. of 2010, the analytic framework and the conceptual model have potential application to TMDL development throughout the country.  Methods were developed to value or quantify ecosystem services that result from nutrient and sediment control practices but are supplemental to benefits derived from water quality improvements.   The ecological production functions developed for this project are informing the ongoing Bay TMDL benefit analyses.  The final ORD report “An Optimization Approach to Evaluate the Role of Ecosystem Services in Chesapeake Bay Restoration Strategies” will soon be available online.

This webinar is intended to share methods with and receive feedback from the academic and NGO community.  Two previous webinars provided federal and state researchers and regulators the same opportunity.  
 
Please click on the link below to reserve your seat. 

We hope you can join us!

Cheers,

Andrew L. Almeter
Office of Research and Development
US EPA

Incorporating Ecosystem Services in Optimization Strategies for TMDLs

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/592851982

Title:

Incorporating Ecosystem Services in Optimization Strategies for TMDLs

Date:

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Time:

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM EDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer