It is no surprise that the power of the Coalition comes from our 180 member organizations. More specifically the many talented, passionate, and dedicated individuals who work at those organizations and are making an immense difference in improving the health of the Delaware River Watershed - from the headwaters down to the Delaware Bay.
At the forefront of our work are the Coalition’s State Leads - who are responsible for convening and organizing work around Coalition priorities, while also looking for emerging issues that may need Coalition support. Our State Leads also work to ensure that Coalition members are knowledgeable about basin issues and engage with the larger membership to help solve them.
Recently, the Coalition welcomed Robin Glazer, our new Delaware State Lead and Environmental Advocate for Delaware Nature Society. Robin’s work involves leading Delaware in regional clean water coalitions, supporting Delaware’s clean water initiatives, and bridging the gap between communities and their governments on environmental issues. Robin holds a B.S. from Penn State in Wildlife and Fisheries Science and an M.A. in Biology from Miami University’s Project Dragonfly. Prior to joining the DNS, Robin worked as a zookeeper at several zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, fulfilling a childhood dream. As such, much of her graduate work focused on resource allocation for zookeepers, organizations, and animals, filling several resource gaps in the profession. After more than a decade of connecting guests to wildlife at zoos, Robin transitioned into advocacy to champion environmental causes at the legislative level. Robin lives in Delaware with her husband and their rescue dogs, cats, and birds.
Meagan had a chance to connect with Robin to learn more about what got her started in environmental work and what she’s most looking forward to in his new role as the Coalition's Delaware State Lead.
What led you to DE Nature Society?
I have a diverse background in wildlife biology and have always been drawn to conservation organizations. I started my professional career as a zookeeper working primarily with charismatic megafauna (okapi, cheetah, and storks to name a few), but after more than a decade of hands-on work with wildlife I decided to move into an advocacy position. My current position as Environmental Advocate was initially intriguing to me as it works with global themes, but on a geographically smaller scale. All states, and even countries around the world, work on environmental issues concerning water, land use, and species conservation. Moreover, DNS and its partners maintain community-based conservation as part of their core values – which I prioritize when implementing conservation action.
What do you love About Delaware’s waterways?
Delaware itself is fascinating – the first state in the U.S., the second smallest state, and the lowest state in terms of elevation. The state also supports three major watersheds – Delaware River, Chesapeake Bay, and Inland Bays – and a variety of ecosystems. This intersection of diverse landscapes and waterways means that we boast a stunning array of Mid-Atlantic plants and wildlife. Additionally, as waterways have been historically significant in the development of human settlements, anyone can see the role that water has played in the growth and development of Delaware. By taking all of this into account, it’s an exciting lens to look through for our long term conservation goals.
What challenges do you see for protecting and restoring DE’s rivers and streams?
With fewer than million people living in less than 2,000 square miles, you would think there would be room for everything in Delaware! However, everyone has their own priorities. We have deep roots in both agriculture and industrialization – from poultry to plastics – which are adjacent to beautiful landscapes to suit anyone’s recreational interests. With that said, there will always be competing interests for space, and its our job to consider the broad factors. In addition to looking at environmental implications of legislation on local, state, and federal levels, we also consider how people and their access to the outdoors will be affected. This “access” is to green spaces such as parks and beaches, but also clean air, water, and soil as well. Many might see the immediate benefits of a project outweighing potential long-term detriments, but as environmentalists we can’t afford to do that. While there may be a higher cost, a longer timeline, or even the inconvenience of construction, our goal is to ensure a safer future for Delaware as a whole.
A colleague of mine recently put it this way: you can pick two priorities when working on a project. You can do it fast and cheap, but the quality won’t be good; fast and good quality, but it won’t be cheap; or cheap and good quality, but it won’t be fast.
Our goal is to find the best option, in regard to the environmental needs.
What are some of the projects you're excited about tackling in your new role as the Coalition's DE state lead?
So far I have really enjoyed being in the same space as so many people and organizations committed to the Delaware River watershed. It is extremely inspiring to have a knowledgeable group of individuals to lean on for information on science and policy. Since the pandemic has caused large staffing changeovers, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with Delaware’s coalition members and continuing meaningful partnerships, some of which have been ongoing for the past decade. I am also excited to see how we can expand our membership, and what that looks like in terms of resource allocation for existing and future members.
Lastly, a fun question! What is your favorite activity to do in DE portion of the watershed?
I’m always happiest near water, so it’s no surprise that I live across the street from Brandywine Creek (although there is some debate in the community about whether it’s really more of a river). I love testing my knowledge of trees and plants, while trying to spot wildlife. We have typical Delaware wildlife including raccoons and blue jays but seeing the local osprey pair perform their annual aerobatic display always stops me in my tracks.
Meagan Schaefer is the Coalition’s Outreach & Communications Manager