Brett Walton

About Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club's Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton

The Stream, April 12: Responding to Scarcity

April 12, 2011/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

By Rationing In Texas Drought in Texas is forcing the state’s environmental commission to consider restricting surface water withdrawals, according to the Star-Telegram. Cities in the state’s southeast are already using emergency reserves and purchasing rights on water markets, the Galveston Daily News reports. By Suing In Oklahoma The New York Times kicks off a […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, April 11: Biofuels, Dams, and Public Health

April 11, 2011/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

Farm-to-Tank Takes a Congressional Detour While the budget brouhaha got top billing, biofuels were working their way through the back alleys of Congress last week. On April 7 the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources held a hearing on the national renewable fuels policy. In acknowledging that hope exceeded reality, committee member Lisa Murkowski […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

The Stream, April 8: Street Battles and Bacterial Nightmares

April 8, 2011/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

Cote d’Ivoire IRIN News reports that the fighting in Abidjan, the capital of Cote d’Ivoire, has cut people off from their water supply, forcing residents to collect water from a polluted lagoon in the city. Superbug! British scientists found bacteria with a gene highly resistant to antibiotics in samples of drinking water and seepage ponds […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Australia Builds Desalination Plants and Pipelines to Bring Water to Mines

April 5, 2011/in Asia, Australia, China, Climate Change, Drought, Hydropower, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

To feed water-hungry mining industries, similar plans are in the works to supply drought-ridden regions of Australia and China.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, April 4: Water Visions from Legislators, Administrators and Scientists

April 4, 2011/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

Crossed Lines in the Senate Energy Committee A water-energy bill that was introduced but not passed in the last Congress was the subject of a Senate committee hearing last week. Introduced in 2009 by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), the bill included provisions for several water-energy studies (one by the National Academy of Sciences, another by […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, March 28: Clean Water

March 28, 2011/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

USAID Newsletter The U.S. Agency for International Development published its bi-monthly newsletter last week. In this edition of “Global Waters”, read about the agency’s work with wastewater treatment in the Philippines, urban water provision in Africa, and a partnership with Coca-Cola. US, World Bank Say ‘We Do’ At a ceremony held on World Water Day, […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

2011 Stockholm Water Prize Awarded to Stephen Carpenter — American Professor Working On Lake Ecosystems

March 23, 2011/in Europe, North America, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

University of Wisconsin-Madison professor earns global recognition.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, March 21: Committee Hearings, Cabinet Talks

March 21, 2011/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

Water Talks In recognition of World Water Day (observed on March 22), the State Department will be hosting a discussion on global water issues today, March 21, at 4:00 pm EDT. The conversation between Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero and Harriet Babbitt, co-chair of the Global Water Challenge, will […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

After Earthquake, Millions in Japan Without Water—Extent of Damage to Water Infrastructure Unknown

March 17, 2011/in Asia, Water & Energy, Water News/by Brett Walton

Myriad obstacles, from roads to snow to a nuclear crisis, hamstring rescue and recovery missions.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, March 14, Part II: Lawsuits and Settlements

March 14, 2011/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

Atlanta vs. Alabama and Florida A court case over the fate of Atlanta’s water supply seems to be heading for a ruling in the city’s favor, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. During arguments Wednesday in Atlanta, a three-judge panel for the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals indicated that they would overturn a lower court’s decision […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Federal Water Tap, March 14, Part I: I’m Just a Bill, Sitting in Committee

March 14, 2011/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

A few of the water-related bills introduced so far in the 112th Congress: Stop Asian Carp Act: H.R. 892/S. 471 Introduced by Rep. David Camp (R-Mich.), the bill, which has bi-partisan support, would require the Army Corps of Engineers to study the feasibility of separating the watersheds of the Mississippi River and the Great Lakes […]

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

Digital Controls Improve Energy Efficiency at Colorado River Dams: Davis, Hoover, Parker

March 9, 2011/in Drought, Hydropower, North America, Water & Energy, Water News/by Brett Walton

Mechanical parts from the 1950s are being replaced with digital controls at three dams.

Brett Walton

Brett writes about agriculture, energy, infrastructure, and the politics and economics of water in the United States. He also writes the Federal Water Tap, Circle of Blue’s weekly digest of U.S. government water news. He is the winner of two Society of Environmental Journalists reporting awards, one of the top honors in American environmental journalism: first place for explanatory reporting for a series on septic system pollution in the United States(2016) and third place for beat reporting in a small market (2014). He received the Sierra Club’s Distinguished Service Award in 2018. Brett lives in Seattle, where he hikes the mountains and bakes pies. Contact Brett Walton

circleofblue.org/author/brett

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About Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton