HUB Efforts to Help Protect Northwest Watersheds

Investment in Unique Water Restoration Certificate Program Restores 1.8m Gallons

Hopworks Urban Brewery (HUB) announced today that it recently signed an agreement with the Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) to purchase Water Restoration Certificates (WRC), which will – over the course of the next 12 months – restore 1.8 million gallons of water to Oregon’s Deschutes River .

BEF’s Water Restoration Certificate program is the first national-level, market-based solution that enables businesses to take responsibility for water consumption by helping restore water flow to critically de-watered creeks and rivers.

“Brewery and pub operations require a large amount of water and through the water restoration certificates, we’re able to return to the environment an equal amount of water to what we use,” said Christian Ettinger, owner/brewmaster of Hopworks. “Our goal is to operate as sustainably as possible and the WRCs integrate smoothly into our existing environmental programs such as our Zero Waste Initiative and using 100 percent renewable energy.”

BEF launched the WRC program in Summer 2009. The program provides economic incentives for water rights holders who historically have had to adhere to policies that foster a “use it or lose it” model for water use. BEF, in partnership with water trust organizations, provides payment to water rights holders that allow them to use their water to restore flow in critically and chronically de-watered streams.

“As Portland’s first Eco-brewpub, Hopworks established a new standard for sustainability in the beer industry,” notes Rob Harmon, BEF’s Chief Innovation Officer. “We appreciate their commitment to the WRC program and support for our work to establish a new standard for water stewardship.”

Each WRC represents 1,000 gallons of water restored to critically de-watered streams. Standards and criteria for the program have been certified by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to ensure water is returned in ways that provide the greatest environmental benefit to rivers, streams, and fish and wildlife populations.

HUB is located at 2944 SE Powell Blvd. and is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to midnight. For more information, please visit Hopworks online at www.HopworksBeer.com or follow on Twitter @HopworksBrewery