To help protect water quality across the Chesapeake Bay region, Alan Girard, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF)’s Maryland Advocacy Director, was elected this year’s Chair of the Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative (DLLC).
Chicken farming has been an essential part of the Delmarva Peninsula’s culture for 100 years. While chicken litter is a valuable fertilizer for crops, it can lead to harmful pollution if not well managed. Agriculture is one of the leading sources of nutrient and sediment pollution entering local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.
DLLC was founded to help address these issues with a collaborative group of diverse stakeholders. Committee members include chicken companies, farmers, agencies, academics, and environmental groups. Each year, the DLLC Chair changes hands between an agriculture and environmental representative.
In his role as Chair, Girard will help ensure the region’s agricultural and poultry operations remain productive, while also protecting water quality and communities. One of the Committee’s top priorities this year is to better understand why Delmarva waterways lag behind other Bay tributaries in reducing nutrient pollution.
Alan Girard, CBF Maryland Advocacy Director and DLLC Chair, issued the following statement:
“The Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative’s goal is clear—productive farms, clean water, and thriving ecosystems. However, the solutions are complex, and collaboration and partnerships with the agricultural and environmental communities are critical. As DLLC Chair, I’m eager to continue nurturing those key relationships and progressing towards our shared goals together.”
