An LID is not the top to a yogurt and not what covers an eye, but rather an innovative way to handle water from rainstorms on developed land.

North Olympic Peninsula interest in LID, or low impact development, is beginning to grow. Several agencies and groups have hosted low impact development workshops, demonstrations and tours in the area.

The state’s Puget Sound Partnership, which has funded numerous low impact development efforts in the area by the North Peninsula Building Association, is sponsoring a new workshop later this month in Sequim.

The June 25-26 class will focus on site planning, plan review, clearing, grading and inspection. Washington State University’s Pierce County Extension is presenting the curriculum.

“We know 1.5 million more people are coming to Puget Sound. If we’re going to accommodate them and take care of the sound, we need to figure out how to lessen the impacts,” said David Dicks, executive director of the Puget Sound Partnership. “Low impact development has a lot of potential. This training provides communities with the tools to grow with grace.”

The June workshops mark the second in a series sponsored by the partnership. The first workshop, which focused on permeable pavement and bioretention, reportedly was very educational. The second workshop covered roofs, foundations and rainwater collection.

The entire series of workshops will be repeated throughout the state to encourage the use of the low impact tactics in development by builders.

With so many new homes expected for an increased population, decreasing the environmental footprint of each home helps Puget Sound Recovery efforts.

“Taken together, these workshops are some of the most comprehensive LID training opportunities in the United States,” said Curtis Hinman, WSU Extension faculty member and creator of the workshop series. “They are an essential next step in education and outreach as we move toward developing stormwater management systems that provide greater protection for out aquatic resources.”

The two-day workshop costs $50 and includes course materials, breakfast and lunch. Preregistration is required for the event, which takes place at the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribal Center in Blyn.

For more information about the workshops and to preregister, visit capps.wsu.edu/conferences/lidworkshops.