Reflecting on Earth Month 2026

2025 Annual Earth Day Cleanup

In honor of Earth Day 2026, YCH employees once again partnered with the Yakama Nation for the 5th Annual Earth Day Clean Up to support restoration efforts within the Yakama Reservation. 

This cherished collaboration reflects our shared commitment to being responsible stewards of the land and respectful neighbors. The day includes removing litter and debris to restore the local flora and fauna along the Yakima River. The annual Earth Day initiative continues to highlight the power of meaningful partnerships and environmental stewardship. 

This year’s efforts centered on the Yakima River in a place known as Parker Dam. Historically used as a fishing and gathering site, this place holds tremendous significance for our friends of the Yakama Nation. As with previous years, the day began with a traditional Opening Ceremony led by members of the Yakama Nation and a prayer in the native language, Ichishkiin. Through stories of the land’s cultural and ecological significance and a ceremonial song offered to bless the work, volunteers were grounded in shared purpose. Inspired by the values of the land’s original stewards, teams spread out to clear debris and helped reveal the area’s stunning natural beauty. 

The day served as a powerful and meaningful reminder of the impact that collaboration, education, and stewardship can have on the health of our shared environment.

Oregon Wild’s 4th Annual Wild & Scenic Earth Day Collaboration Series 

We are proud to continue our support of Oregon Wild and the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance!

Great beer starts with clean water. A “brewshed®” is a watershed where brewers source water to brew craft beer. Because beer is over 90% water, the water quality directly affects the quality of the microbrew. Our purest, best-tasting water flows from rivers and streams across our intact public forests. By protecting and restoring these forested watersheds, we’re safeguarding the source of Oregon craft beer. 

For the fourth consecutive year, the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance is highlighting the Wild & Scenic Earth Day Collaboration Series, dedicated to expanding public education and awareness of the vital role of clean water in our communities, our forested ecosystems, and, very importantly, our beer.

YCH partners with Oregon Wild, Coleman Agriculture, and Oregon Brewshed® Alliance partner breweries to promote the Wild & Scenic Earth Day Collaboration Series of beers.

This collaboration highlights the essential connection between clean water and great beer, inviting breweries to craft a beer that honors their local watershed. The effort raises awareness for the River Democracy Act, a historic opportunity to protect over 3,000 miles of Oregon’s waterways. Additionally, the initiative helps raise critical funds for the Oregon Wild and the Oregon Brewshed® Alliance to continue their direct lobbying efforts, support public outreach and education, and build community through grassroots activism.

"With our watersheds and public lands facing more threats than ever before, the brewing community is rising to the challenge and using its voice to advocate for conservation. Teaming up with breweries who rely on watersheds all across the state to make some of the best beer in the world, we are honored to partner with Yakima Chief Hops to make this year's collaboration the biggest, most impactful, and tastiest yet!" - Jonathan Jelen, Oregon Wild

2026 Participating Breweries: 

BearKat Brewing, Hillsboro, OR 
Tualatin River (part of the Willamette River Basin)  

Binary Brewing, Beaverton, OR 
Tualatin River (Willamette River Basin)  

Deschutes Brewery, Bend, OR 
Deschutes River Basin  

Double Mountain Brewery, Hood River, OR 
Hood River (Columbia River Basin) 

 
ForeLand Beer, McMinnville, OR 
Yamhill River (Willamette River Basin)  

Grand Fir Brewing, Portland, OR 
Willamette River Basin  

Hetty Alice Beers, Portland, OR 
Willamette River Basin  

Hopworks Brewery, Portland, OR 
Willamette River Basin  

Lazy Days Brewing, Portland, OR 
Willamette River Basin  

Leikam Brewing, Portland, OR 
Willamette River Basin  

Level Beer, Portland, OR 
Columbia Slough / Lower Willamette Basin  

Living Häus Beer Co., Portland, OR 
Willamette River Basin  

Parallel 45 Brewing, Independence, OR 
Willamette River Basin  

Silver Falls Brewery, Silverton, OR 
Pudding River (Willamette River Basin) 

 
Sunriver Brewing, Sunriver, OR 
Upper Deschutes River Basin  

Terranaut Beer Company, Bend, OR 
Deschutes River Basin  

 Tiny Giants Brewing. Bend, OR 
Deschutes River Basin  

Worthy Brewing, Bend, OR 
Deschutes River Basin  

Xicha Brewing, Salem, OR 
Willamette River Basin

Oregon Brewsheds: 

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.

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

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

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. 

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. 

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. 

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

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.

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.

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.

Impact Report

As a 100% grower-owned, multi-generational company, we recognize that every decision we make shapes the environment, affects local economies, and impacts the people we serve–our customers, employees, and communities. Beyond delivering premium hops to brewers around the world, we are committed to cultivating a more sustainable and responsible future. 

Each year, we produce an Impact Report that looks back on the progress we’ve made and outlines our future ambitions in sustainability and social impact. Explore our latest Impact Report to see how Yakima Chief Hops is turning commitment into action and leading the way toward a more resilient industry.