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

Federal Water Tap, September 27: New Projections Show High Risks for Colorado River Reservoirs

September 27, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Bureau of Reclamation releases five-year projections for lakes Mead and Powell. The EPA Administrator discusses farm issues with state agricultural regulators. The GAO says Congress should work on a permanent fix for the nation’s spent commercial nuclear fuel. And lastly, foreign affairs agencies will update their global water strategy. “The latest outlook […]

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

In Climate Talks, Plans to Keep Planet from Overheating Should Not Ignore Water

September 23, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Carbon-reduction plans, if not well designed, can worsen water scarcity and pollution.

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

Toxin Levels Spike, Prompting Drinking Water Emergency in Northern California

September 22, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Cyanotoxins in the state’s second-largest freshwater lake soared this month amid a hot, dry summer.

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, September 21, 2021: National Pledges to Cut Carbon Emissions Are Too Timid, UN Says

September 21, 2021/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

YOUR GLOBAL RUNDOWN UN report reveals national carbon-reduction pledges are inadequate to prevent catastrophic warming. Minnesota regulators fine Enbridge $3.3 million for environmental violations while building the Line 3 oil pipeline. Climate change slows global farm productivity. A month after a toxic waste spill from an Angola diamond mine poisoned rivers in the Democratic Republic […]

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, September 20: House Committee Approves $30 Billion to Remove Lead Drinking Water Pipes

September 20, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown House Democratic leaders propose $30 billion in a budget reconciliation package for removing lead drinking water pipes. The budget reconciliation package includes money for school drinking water, colonias, areas affected by disasters, and aid to households to pay their water bills. The EPA alters its permitting guidance for pollution of surface water via […]

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 Opportunity Is Now’: Water Advocates View Upcoming UN Climate Conference as Moment of Relevance

September 15, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Water was overlooked in past global climate talks. Advocates are focusing on the Glasgow meeting to highlight water’s indispensable climate role.

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, September 13: EPA Resumes Work to Block Alaskan Mine That Threatens Salmon

September 13, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA intends to resume the process of blocking a proposed mine in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. The EPA says it will limit discharges of PFAS chemicals and nutrients from certain industries. The EPA proposes 13 sites for the Superfund list. The CDC wants to continue collecting data on SARS-Cov-2 in wastewater for […]

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

‘Eyes in the Sky’ Help Police California Water Use

September 9, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Satellite data is one monitoring tool regulators turn to in this very dry year.

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, September 7: New Federal Office Connects Climate Change and Health

September 7, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A federal judge overturns the Trump administration’s Clean Water Act definition. Bureau of Reclamation contributes $19 million for a Colorado River water conservation program. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes removing a notorious species from the threatened list. The CDC tallies emergency room visits due to harmful algal blooms. USGS researchers find […]

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

Hurricane Ida Damages Louisiana Water Systems, Cuts Water Service

September 1, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Nearly two hundred water systems, large and small, are experiencing outages after the powerful storm.

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

Colorado River Forecasts Not a ‘Crystal Ball’

September 1, 2021/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Computer models inform key decisions in the Colorado River basin. But they cannot predict the future.

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, August 30: White House Climate and Migration Report Is Delayed

August 30, 2021/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A climate and migration report ordered by President Biden is not yet complete. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposes endangered species status for Texas mussels. The EPA announces $25 million in drinking water grant funding for small and disadvantaged communities. An intensive DOE research project aims to better understand the interactions of air, […]

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