Thurston County is home to Washington State's capitol city Olympia, situated directly along the southern most part of Puget Sound. The County encompasses 737 square miles of diverse landscape of coastal lowlands, prairie flatlands and foothills of the Cascade mountain range. With an array of land cover types,Thurston County's landscapes deliver many different ecosystem goods and services. The value of ecosystem services in Thurston County represents a social, environmental and economic...
More DescriptionThurston County is home to Washington State's capitol city Olympia, situated directly along the southern most part of Puget Sound. The County encompasses 737 square miles of diverse landscape of coastal lowlands, prairie flatlands and foothills of the Cascade mountain range. With an array of land cover types,Thurston County's landscapes deliver many different ecosystem goods and services. The value of ecosystem services in Thurston County represents a social, environmental and economic benefit to the County's residents. Defining and quantifying the County's natural capital is an important and helpful tool to inform public policy, including local land use planning, and those efforts which must incorporate statemandated goals and standards that involve protection and enhancement of water quality and important natural resources, and other quality of life factors. Such efforts enhance management and conservation goals that will ultimately lead to the protection of ecosystems across the county, therefore creating a strong local economy and high quality of life for residents.