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, May 9: President Obama Criticizes ‘Corrosive’ Political Attitude During Flint Visit

May 9, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Obama criticized the political culture of neglect that resulted in the Flint water crisis. Nuclear regulators say risk of groundwater contamination from using Yucca Mountain as a waste dump is small. Federal officials signed off on a California recycled water project. Arsenic in shallow household wells may be to blame for a rise […]

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, May 6: UK Landfills At Risk From Rising Seas, Stronger Storms

May 6, 2016/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Coastal landfills in England and Wales are a pollution disaster waiting to happen, with many vulnerable to erosion from rising seas and stronger storms, according to a new study. Scientists linked arsenic in well water to higher rates of cancer in New England. A drought in Cambodia is killing wild animals, causing […]

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

California Groundwater Regulation Hangs on a Few Words

May 5, 2016/in California, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

As a key deadline approaches, a debate over word choice. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue It was never going to be easy. California’s attempt to exert tighter control over groundwater use, the purpose of a landmark 2014 state law, was designed to be a compromise between state authority and local oversight. The tension dogged […]

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, May 2: Senate Committee Passes $US 9 Billion Water Development Act

May 2, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Broad, bipartisan bill offers money for Flint, ports, levees and clears its first legislative hurdle. Meanwhile, a Great Lakes funding bill passes the House. The EPA begins developing a national drinking water strategy. The Obama administration, by releasing or beginning several reports, makes good on its promise to investigate water technology. An EPA […]

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

Study: Efficient Fixtures Cut U.S. Indoor Water Use

April 25, 2016/in Infrastructure, United States, Water Management/by Brett Walton

America’s households are using less water. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Indoor household water use in the United States decreased 22 percent between 1999 and 2016, according to the most rigorous analysis to date of how water is used in U.S. homes. Even more encouraging for conservationists is that indoor water use could drop […]

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 25: Michigan Senators Seek Answers for Great Lakes Oil Pipeline

April 25, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Michigan senators want to avoid a Great Lakes oil spill while Senate Democrats propose a large spending increase on water infrastructure. The full Senate, meanwhile, passes an energy bill. The Justice Department cut a deal with chemicals companies to clean up contaminated Los Angeles County groundwater. The House Natural Resources Committee holds 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

Conga Mine in Peru Halted By Water Concerns, Civic Opposition

April 21, 2016/in Mining, South America, Water & Energy/by Brett Walton

U.S. mining company retreats from $US 4.8 billion gold and copper project. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Newmont Mining, the world’s second-largest gold producer, announced in a U.S. financial filing that it is abandoning a $US 4.8 billion copper and gold mine in Peru “for the foreseeable future.” “Newmont will not proceed with 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

El Nino Is Over But the Damage Continues

April 19, 2016/in Africa, Drought, Water & Climate/by Brett Walton

More than 60 million people face hunger, malnutrition. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue The El Nino that swept the world starting in the summer of 2015 was one of the worst on record, according to leading meteorological agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The weather phenomenon caused by warm ocean water in […]

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 18: Two Investigations of Water Practices in California

April 18, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Investigators look into spending on big delta tunnel project and accounting trickery at a big irrigation district in California while a House representative scrutinizes the World Bank’s water practices. Three pipeline safety bills compete for approval while a pipeline to ship oil to Canada undergoes federal review. Senators get a private briefing on […]

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

Israel’s Water Resource Ethic: More With Less

April 14, 2016/in Middle East, Water Management/by Brett Walton

Desert life nurtures respect for water. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue SEDE BOQER, Israel — The restaurant patio at Kornmehl Farm, a family homestead on the northern edge of the Negev desert, is a place for reflection as well as fine food. While reclining on divans shaded by fluorescent awnings, and eating goat cheese […]

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: Agency Officials Testify at Human Right to Water Hearing

April 11, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The U.S. government testifies about domestic water access while a Senate committee held a hearing on water affordability. Klamath River dam removal is back on the table, with two new agreements. The White House warns about the health risks of climate change. The U.S. Geological Survey has funding available for a national groundwater […]

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: Tiny Federal Water Allocation Again for Some California Farmers

April 4, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Lean year again for the west side of California’s Central Valley. Federal coal program undergoes a comprehensive review. Two engineering competitions seek better designs for water problems. Senate committee will discuss water affordability. California groundwater recharge project seeks public comments while a government watchdog says the EPA is failing at overseeing underground 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

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About Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton