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

Colorado River Basin Conservation Agreements Take Shape

June 8, 2015/in California, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

States look to delay mandatory water restrictions and preserve hydropower generation. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue The Central Arizona Project canal passes groundwater recharge ponds to the north of Scottsdale. The 540-kilometer (336-mile) canal delivers Colorado River water to the interior of Arizona. Click image to enlarge. By Brett Walton Circle […]

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, June 8: Senate Committee Discusses Western Drought

June 8, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Drought and water challenges go beyond California, senators learned. The EPA released a draft study of fracking’s effect on drinking water. House Transportation Committee reviews a water infrastructure bill that was signed last year. Florida and Georgia are urged to settle water dispute. “We need to be as long-term in our view as […]

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

Groundwater Data Bill Passes California Senate

June 4, 2015/in California, California Drought, Groundwater, North America, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Lawmakers seek to make public a trove of groundwater data.

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 Buyback Limit Proposed for Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin

June 3, 2015/in Australia, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Legislation would redirect the flow of money for water-saving projects.

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, June 1: EPA Offers Many Exemptions in Clean Water Act Rule

June 1, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA made two big regulatory announcements: on the Clean Water Act and biofuels. The EPA also authorized a record loan for wastewater treatment and approved a green infrastructure deal for Washington. Meanwhile, the EPA’s internal watchdog outlined the agency’s management challenges. An environmental review for a California desalination plant will soon begin. […]

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

Amid California Drought, Oil Industry Wastewater Attracts New Scrutiny

May 28, 2015/in California, California Drought, Groundwater, North America, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

State and federal authorities move to tame use of aquifers as oil field dumps. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Kern County is the center of California’s oil industry. The industry’s wastewater disposal practices have come under greater scrutiny in the fourth year of California’s drought emergency. Click image to enlarge. 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

Unstable Slopes: Nepal Landslide Highlights Risk to Lives and Infrastructure in Himalayas

May 28, 2015/in Hydropower, South Asia, Water News/by Brett Walton

Triggered by the April 25 earthquake, Kali Gandaki landslide reveals long-term challenges in the world’s highest mountain range.

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 25: Tribal Water Rights Hearing in Senate Committee

May 25, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Senators discussed Indian water rights, while a House committee heard complaints from states over stream protection rule. Western states received $US 50 million for water conservation and recycling. NOAA issued the first algae forecast of the year. Two reports assessed climate adaptation by federal agencies. Yakima River Basin water availability declines. The Senate […]

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 Farms Use How Much Water? Nobody Really Knows

May 19, 2015/in Agriculture, California, California Drought, Groundwater, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

No comprehensive data exist on agricultural water consumption.

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 18: Colorado River Basin Report Examines Water Solutions

May 18, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Conservation is the talk of the Colorado River Basin, but saving water is not a cure-all. A solar power proposal in Nevada would use no water. The USDA hands out water conservation grants, while the Bureau of Reclamation offers money for drought planning. Legal charges in North Carolina coal ash spill. Alabama sues […]

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

Gila River Diversion in New Mexico Pits New West vs Old

May 13, 2015/in Groundwater, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

Debate demonstrates the power of water in the drying American West.

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 11: EPA Recommends Health Standards for Toxic Algae in Drinking Water

May 11, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown EPA issues toxic algae guidelines. A California congressman wants to block federal spending on river flows in his home state. Commenters want more protection for drinking water from federal oil-by-rail rules. Irrigation in the mid-Atlantic is concentrated on a peninsula. Nevada uses less Colorado River water. Asian carp won’t go hungry in Lake […]

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