BALTIMORE, MD—The Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s Maryland Advocacy Director Alan Girard has been elected as the Chair of the Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative (DLLC) for 2025. The DLLC is a group of diverse stakeholders working to address pollution from chicken litter in the Chesapeake Bay region. Chicken farming has been integral to Delmarva Peninsula culture for a century. Chicken litter, while a valuable fertilizer, can pollute if not well managed.

Girard will help lead the committee’s efforts to find solutions that balance the needs of agriculture with protecting water quality. One of the key issues the committee will focus on this year is understanding why Delmarva waterways are lagging behind other tributaries in reducing nutrient pollution.

The DLLC was formed to address the impact of chicken litter, a valuable fertilizer but also a potential source of pollution if not managed properly. Agriculture is a major source of nutrient and sediment pollution entering local waterways and the Chesapeake Bay.

“The Delmarva Land and Litter Collaborative’s goal is clear—productive farms, clean water, and thriving ecosystems,” Girard said. “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.”

The DLLC includes representatives from chicken companies, farmers, government agencies, academics, and environmental groups. The Chair position rotates annually between an agricultural and an environmental representative.

This article was written with the assistance of AI and reviewed by a human editor.