Spring is in full swing, and so are we! Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) strives to embody Earth Day every day–a testament to our ongoing commitment to being responsible stewards of our environment. Here’s what April looked like for YCH’s sustainability efforts:

2025 Annual Earth Day Cleanup

For the fourth consecutive year, YCH employees teamed up with the Yakama Nation to restore areas within the Yakama Reservation in honor of Earth Day. This event emphasizes the importance of being good neighbors and stewards of the land. From clearing litter and debris to supporting the restoration of the Pacific lamprey population in the Yakima River, the annual Earth Day cleanup is dedicated to restoring the natural landscape through meaningful collaboration.

This year, our Earth Day clean-up crew focused on the Ahtanum Ridge. The day started with a traditional Opening Ceremony led by members of the Yakama Nation. They shared stories of the land’s significance and offered a ceremonial song to bless the volunteer efforts, grounding the work in gratitude, safety, and shared purpose. Afterwards, teams spread out across the site, collecting trash and debris and helping to return this stunning landscape to its natural state.

To conclude the day, crew members hand-released lamprey into the Ahtanum Creek following an educational presentation on the lamprey’s significance to the habitat and people.

Yakima Chief Hops x Yakama Nation Earth Day lamprey release

Yakima Chief Hops x Yakama Nation Earth Day clean up on Ahtanum Ridge

Oregon Wild and Scenic Earth Day Collab

We are proud to continue supporting Oregon Wild and the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance! Here’s a quick look at how we are involved.

Great beer starts with clean water. No one understands the importance of clean water quite like the world-class brewers of the Pacific Northwest. That’s why, for the third year running, the Oregon Brewshed Alliance is hosting the Wild & Scenic Earth Day Collaboration Series to expand public education and awareness about the importance of clean water to our communities, our forested ecosystems, and our beer!

Building off the success and momentum of the past two years, we have an opportunity to make an even bigger impact to protect our waters, our forests, and our climate. Oregon Wild, Coleman Agriculture, Yakima Chief Hops, and Oregon Brewshed® Alliance partner breweries have gathered to launch the Wild & Scenic Earth Day Collaboration Series of beers.

This collaboration aims to spotlight the vital link between clean water and great beer by encouraging breweries to craft a beer that honors their local watershed. It’s a chance for brewers to share why the health of their water source matters so much, and to help drinkers understand that every pint is connected to the rivers, streams, and landscapes we all share. The effort also raises awareness for the River Democracy Act, a historic opportunity to protect over 3,000 miles of Oregon’s waterways, while promoting a shared commitment to sustainability and conservation among partners.

Additionally, the initiative helps raise critical financial support for the conservation work of Oregon Wild and the Oregon Brewshed Alliance, fueling public education, grassroots engagement, and momentum toward passing the River Democracy Act.

Check out this year’s brewing partners, the Brewsheds they represent, and find a pint near you:

Hood River Brewshed: The West Fork Hood River and Cold Springs Creek (Tamanawas Falls) are just two of the waterways in this region that stand to benefit from the River Democracy Act.

  • pFriem Family Brewers, Hood River – Earth Day IPA

Upper Deschutes Brewshed: Fall River and key tributaries of the iconic Metolius River. 

  • Sunriver Brewing Co., Bend, – Alluvial IPA

Tumalo Creek and Bridge Creek Brewsheds: The namesake Tumalo Creek as well as the headwater streams like Bridge Creek. 

  • Cascade Lakes Brewing – Blossom Bar Pale Ale
  • Deschutes Brewery – Oregon Wild West Coast IPA

Bull Run Brewshed: The primary water supply for the Portland metropolitan area. Situated in Mount Hood National Forest, Bull Run receives approximately 130 inches of annual rainfall. Oregon Wild and partners helped to increase protections for Portland’s drinking water in 1996 and further protected it in 2001. 

  • Grand Fir Brewing, Portland – Good Prevails
  • Breakside Brewery, Portland – Brewshed Alliance Pale Ale
  • Leikam Brewing, Portland – Third Stone from the Sun Pale Ale

Luckiamute River Brewshed: Consisting largely of state and private forestlands, this Brewshed benefits from the Private Forest Accord, which Oregon Wild and partners helped advance to improve forest management practices across ten million acres of private forestlands. 

  • Parallel 45 Brewing, Monmouth, and Old Standby Brewing, Salem – Three Wild & Scenic Guys

North Santiam Brewshed: A 22+ mile stretch of the North Santiam River stands to get Wild & Scenic River protections as part of the River Democracy Act, as well as the Breitenbush River, Whitewater Creek, and French Creek, which all feed into the North Santiam River. 

  • Xicha Brewing, West Salem – Tres Carlos
  • Little Beast Brewing – Wild About Oregon Extra Pale Ale

Clackamas Brewshed and Troutdale Sandstone Aquifer: The River Democracy Act calls for protecting the Oak Grove Fork, a critical tributary of the Clackamas River.

  • Oak Union Brewing, Oak Grove – Oak Grove

Chehalem Creek Brewshed: Consisting largely of state and private forestlands, the Chehalem Creek Brewshed in Yamhill County benefits from the Private Forest Accord, which Oregon Wild and partners helped advance to significantly improve and modernize forest management practices across ten million acres of private forestlands.

  • Coattails Brewery, Newberg – Brewshed Alliance Hazy IPA

Coos River Brewshed: Consisting largely of state and private forestlands, the Coos River Brewshed in southwest Oregon benefits from both the Private Forest Accord as well as the Habitat Conservation Plan that helps safeguard the Elliott State Forest.

  • 7 Devils Brewing, Coos Bay – Trillium IPA

Abiqua & Silver Creek Brewshed: Consisting largely of state and private forestlands, the Abiqua and Silver Creek Brewsheds benefit from Oregon Wild’s work to advance the Private Forest Accord as well as work to secure Habitat Conservation Plans for the Santiam forest that safeguards waterways with larger buffers and upland protections.

  • Silver Falls Brewing, Silverton – Locally Sourced

Impact Report

There’s something grounding about putting your hands in the earth. It keeps your mind focused on the planet and the future. As a 100% grower-owned, multi-generational company, we are deeply aware that every business decision we make impacts the environment, the local economy, and the people we serve–our customers, employees, and communities. Beyond providing brewers worldwide with premium hops, we’re committed to making a positive difference in the world around us.

Explore our latest Impact Report to see how Yakima Chief Hops is paving the way for a more sustainable industry.

Yakima Chief Hops takes great pride in operating our business responsibly, emphasizing a focus on long-term success and the conviction that constructing value for both local communities and the planet is every bit as crucial as shareholder value. We work tirelessly to reduce our carbon footprint, lessen dependence on natural resources, and eliminate waste while empowering our communities along the way. We recognize that industry collaboration is the pivotal force for driving meaningful change and hope to inspire others to join us in creating a sustainable future.