Wyld is more than just a really good gummy. We’re a company that cares about the beautiful world around us — and in Oregon, we’re privileged to have a particularly beautiful slice of the world right outside of our backdoor. But as with most natural beautiful things, the ecological makeup of our backyard is sensitive and in desperate need of help due to climate change and human-influenced factors.

Enter The Freshwater Trust (TFT), a Portland, Oregon-based water conservation nonprofit with major projects across the Western United States. Over the last few years, TFT has restored 28 miles of critical waterways in the Sandy River Basin at the foot of Mt. Hood, and Wyld is proud to support their essential work in this fragile habitat.

Recently, we got the chance to send some of our Wyld staff to check out the Sandy River Basin project in person, accompanied by Daniel Baldwin, Restoration Project Manager from The Freshwater Trust (TFT). Below is a link to the video we made documenting the project, but first, lets start with important context.

About The Freshwater Trust

The Freshwater Trust is a Portland-based nonprofit leading innovative river restoration across the Pacific Northwest. Their science-driven approach combines data analytics, policy advocacy, and community partnerships to create lasting impact. By focusing on efficiency and scalability, TFT ensures that their restoration projects deliver measurable benefits for rivers and the species that depend on them.

About Wyld Works

Wyld Works is Wyld’s social and environmental impact initiative. Our mission is simple: support conservation, equity, and community well-being through funding and advocacy. By partnering with organizations like TFT, we amplify their work and fund ecosystem restoration projects that sustain life.

Why the Sandy River Matters

Flowing from Mount Hood’s glacial melt to the Columbia River, the Sandy River is a vital corridor for Spring Chinook salmon, which migrate over 190 miles from the Pacific Ocean to spawn in the headwaters of the basin. The Sandy River Basin provides:

  • Cold, clean water essential for young salmon survival
  • Natural gravel beds, called redds, used for spawning
  • Easy connectivity to the ocean via the Columbia River

Without healthy rivers like the Sandy, salmon populations—and the ecosystems they support—face serious risk.

Restoration In Action

The Freshwater Trust is implementing targeted projects to bring balance back to the Sandy River Basin. Modern forestry work, human infrastructure, and record high snow melts due to rising global temperatures have stripped the Sandy headwaters of their natural pools and tree log shelters. The TFT project includes the following:

  • Adding large wood structures to restore natural flow and create habitat
  • Planting native vegetation to stabilize banks and improve water quality
  • Creating side channels and removing barriers for safe fish passage

These efforts strengthen river health and ensure salmon populations can thrive for generations to come.

The Chinook Salmon Journey

The life cycle of Spring Chinook salmon is an incredible migration:

Egg → Fry → Smolt → Ocean → Adult Return

  • Egg — spawn in gravel nests (called redds) in cold riverbeds
  • Fry — hatch and grow in freshwater
  • Smolts — adapt to saltwater and migrate to the ocean
  • Ocean — mature in the ocean.
  • Adult Return — return to their natal stream to spawn

Every stage depends on healthy, connected rivers. Restoration projects like those in the Sandy Basin provide the cold water, shelter, and spawning grounds salmon need to survive.

Watch The Film

See restoration in action and learn more about this vital work. Like and subscribe to our channel for both Wyld Works content and Wyld gummy education.

How Gummy Dollars Go To The Planet

Our partnership with TFT includes funding and advocacy. We:

  • Supporting on-the-ground restoration projects
  • Sharing stories to raise awareness and inspire action
  • Encouraging industry-wide environmental responsibility

Every Wyld Works collaboration creates a ripple effect—improving ecosystems, strengthening communities, and inspiring others to join the movement.

For People & Planet

Want to make a difference?

Together, we can help prevent ecosystem loss and preserve the planet for generations to come.