Farmers and landowners across Delmarva have made significant investments in conservation practices to reduce the nutrients and sediment reaching Chesapeake Bay waterways, yet water quality monitoring across the region has not shown the improvements that models predict. Understanding why is critical to making future conservation investments more effective.

DLLC believes that farmers deserve clear answers about whether and how their conservation investments are making a difference. We also believe it will take scientists, farmers, chicken producers, environmental advocates, and agency partners working together to find those answers. In June 2025, DLLC convened a three-day workshop series in Easton, Maryland, bringing together approximately 30 regional scientists and 70 diverse stakeholders to evaluate the best available science and develop shared hypotheses about nutrient dynamics on Delmarva. Read the full workshop summary report released April 2026.

Photo credit: Jenny Rhodes