WA Brewshed® Support for Biden Admin’s Freshwater Challenge Swells to 50!
In June, we shared that the Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory highlighted Washington Wild and 32 Washington brewers among more than 50 new state, local, non-profit, and businesses endorsing America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge. Today, we’re excited to announce that this supporter list has grown to 50 Washington Brewshed® Alliance Members, brewers, bottle shops, pubs, maltsters, and hop growers.
See the full list here.
Wetlands are vanishing globally at three times the rate of forests, and in the U.S., we’ve already lost half of our wetlands. Alarmingly, freshwater animal populations are declining at twice the rate of their terrestrial counterparts. A staggering 650 species federally listed under the Endangered Species Act depend on these crucial habitats for survival. However, there is still a window of opportunity to safeguard these essential ecosystems before they are lost forever.
Federal agencies, states, Tribal, and local communities all have a major role to play in conserving what we have left and restoring what has been lost. Water, and everything in it, moves—without regard to geopolitical boundaries—so we must work together across governments to conserve and restore the freshwater bodies that protect and support us.
It is a cause the Biden Administration is championing with an ambitious goal to reconnect, restore, and protect 8 million acres of wetlands and 100,000 miles of rivers and streams by 2030. Known as the America the Beautiful Freshwater Challenge, this bold initiative is supported by over $50 billion in investments aimed at expanding and improving water infrastructure to secure access to clean drinking water for all, supporting aquatic ecosystem biodiversity, honoring Tribal treaty rights and lifeways, incorporating Indigenous Knowledge into restoration approaches, and gaining climate resilience through healthy functional estuarine ecosystems.
As the biggest hop producer in the world and with some of the most pristine mountain water available, Washington State has attracted some of the best brewers in the world. And those brewers know that by protecting local watersheds, they protect their ability to make great beer.
Those who have signed on as Freshwater Challenge participants are committing to continuing to implement business practices that protect our local freshwater ecosystems. This includes initiatives such as water recycling and utilizing Salmon-Safe ingredients when possible. Additionally, they will continue to support efforts to designate new Outstanding Resource Waters and Wild & Scenic Rivers by signing public comment letters, hosting outreach events, and raising awareness through collaboration beers.
