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, February 20: Oroville Dam Emergency Refocuses Attention on U.S. Water Infrastructure

February 20, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Regulators order an independent board to review Oroville Dam engineering while the White House offers emergency aid. The Senate confirms Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as EPA administrator. Despite continuing to assert that clean water is important, President Trump signs a bill repealing an Obama administration rule protecting streams from coal mining waste. […]

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

Oroville Emergency a Warning for U.S. Dam Safety

February 15, 2017/in Infrastructure, Water Management, Water News/by Brett Walton

California prepares for long battle with Oroville’s damaged spillway.

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

Wisconsin Towns Face Groundwater Crisis Alone

February 14, 2017/in Groundwater, Water Management/by Brett Walton

High-capacity irrigation wells are drying out lakes but state officials have little authority to act. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Water pollution and availability have emerged in recent years as urgent matters of public policy in Midwest farm states. The governors of Iowa and Minnesota, for instance, used their recent State of the State […]

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, February 13: Senate Democrats Reveal Trillion-Dollar Infrastructure Outline

February 13, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Democrats’ proposal includes at least $US 110 billion for water and sewer systems. Dakota Access pipeline receives final Army Corps approval. TransCanada resubmits its application to build the Keystone XL pipeline. Congress passes a resolution to invalidate an Obama administration rule to protect streams from coal mining waste. USGS researchers publish five regional […]

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

Sinking Land Causes California Water Chokepoint

February 10, 2017/in Infrastructure, Water Management, Water News/by Brett Walton

Buckled canals, damaged because of groundwater pumping, impair state’s ability to deliver water and control floods.

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, January 19: EPA, Interior Confirmation Hearings Center on Federal Role

January 19, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Senate committees question nominees for EPA and Interior. A futurist report from nation’s intelligence agencies considers the potential for water conflict. The Obama administration makes a final donation to a global climate development fund. A binational commission evaluates Great Lakes water quality progress. The outgoing Interior secretary issues a final order on the […]

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, January 16: Healthcare Benefits Determined In Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Case

January 16, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs determines eligibility for healthcare benefits for veterans sickened by drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The EPA opens applications for a new water infrastructure loan program while also handing out grants for water quality research. The EPA also proposes rules for Great Lakes sewage overflows, lead in drinking […]

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

Water and Climate Dominate World Economic Forum Risk Report

January 13, 2017/in Water Management, Water News, Water Risk/by Brett Walton

Water crises and climate change worry business and political elite.

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

U.S. Governors Discuss Water in 2017 State of the State Speeches

January 12, 2017/in Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Leaders outline water policy priorities. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Akin to the presidential State of the Union, the State of the State speech is an opportunity for U.S. governors to set budget priorities for the upcoming year and champion public policy success (and occasionally failures). Below are summaries of what governors said 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

circleofblue.org/author/brett

No Filter: Treating Drinking Water at the Faucet Is Rarely a Utility’s Contamination Solution

January 11, 2017/in Drinking Water, Water News, Water Policy & Politics, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

Under-the-sink filters are effective. But regulators impose stringent requirements on utilities that wish to use them. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue In response to the lead emergency in Flint, the state of Michigan distributed 146,843 water filters to residents. Installed under the sink, the devices effectively scrub lead from drinking water. U.S. Environmental Protection […]

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

Kansas Town Faces Big Bill to Clean Drinking Water

January 9, 2017/in Drinking Water, Water News, Water Quality/by Brett Walton

In farm country, the cost of nitrate pollution often falls on towns. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Pretty Prairie, home to 650 people on the southern Kansas plains, is a one-well town. And that well is giving the town fits. The 30-meter-deep (100-foot) borehole draws water from a slice of the Equus Beds aquifer […]

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, January 9: Interior Department Sets Timetable for California’s Delta Tunnels Review

January 9, 2017/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Interior Department directs its agencies to complete final reviews of a pair of tunnels through California’s Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The special master in the Florida v. Georgia water lawsuit dredges up an old and outrageous idea. The EPA revises criteria for designating Superfund sites and publishes a $US 1 billion plan to […]

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