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

California’s Voluntary Water Conservation Plan Is Not Close to Working

April 7, 2015/in California, California Drought/by Brett Walton

Deeper drought, warmer temperatures lead to more water use in Southern California, not less. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock / Joakim Lloyd Raboff Lawns and pools dot the backyards of homes in Hollywood. Southern California water use rose in February, leading to the state’s worst conservation performance yet. Click image to enlarge. A month before Governor […]

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 7: Polluted Reservoir Is Alternative to Sao Paulo Rationing

April 7, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Sao Paulo’s last hope to avoid severe water restrictions is a goopy mess. A new development in the Arizona desert raises water supply questions. Canada’s glaciers are shrinking but scientists have better maps of their decline. And what to do about golf courses…in California and China. “History shows a loss of popularity […]

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 6: California Watershed Holds 40 Percent Less Water

April 6, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Groundwater levels fell to new lows in India’s tech hub while a state in western India opened its largest drinking water pipeline. Airborne instruments see a substantial drop in California’s snowpack, and Apple sees the value of recycled water. Nevada lawmakers might make it rain. “You’re kind of milking the snow.” — […]

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 6: Leasing Water and Land for Colorado River Basin Restoration

April 6, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Bureau of Reclamation negotiates a land and water lease in Arizona while endorsing water transfer options in California. NASA sees little water in a Sierra Nevada watershed. Tennessee gains control of its underground wastewater disposal program. Streams in the Pacific Northwest are under the microscope. California congressman introduces a pair of drought […]

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 Orders First Mandatory Water Restrictions

April 1, 2015/in California, California Drought, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

Abysmal snowpack ‘obliterates’ record; cities told to conserve 25 percent.

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 1: Hospitals in Poor Countries Lack Water, Sanitation, and Soap

April 1, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Hospitals fail to meet international water and sanitation standards. A city reliant on groundwater sees levels drop while illegal sand mining threatens water supplies in southern India. Desalination is more attractive for a gold mine proposed in Mexico after a water-price hike. Protestors in Baltimore oppose a plan to shut off water […]

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, March 31: Taiwan Delays Water Rationing Thanks to Rainfall

March 31, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown Taiwan takes measures to respond to low reservoir levels while drought in western India drives farmers out of villages to find seasonal work. Africa’s largest solar-powered water well is installed in a refugee camp. Rice fields in Vietnam are threatened by salt water. And scientists expect deeper droughts for Australia. “They sweat […]

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, March 30: Polluted River Segments in India Double in Last Five Years

March 30, 2015/in The Stream/by Brett Walton

The Global Rundown India’s rivers are getting dirtier while the prime minister proposes new measures to clean up the Ganges. Maryland’s largest city is telling homes and businesses to pay late water bills or face service cuts. West Virginia’s governor weakened a chemical safety law. A mining company cancels copper project in Peru over water […]

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 30: Rules for Fracking on Public Lands and an Analysis of Fracking Fluids

March 30, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown New fracking rules seek to protect water sources while the EPA assesses fracking data. Most of the West already has a federal drought designation. The U.S. Geological Survey reminds Congress that many details about national water use are a black box. A bill to boost funding for tribal irrigation repairs moves out of […]

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 Drought Is Not Lifting

March 30, 2015/in California, California Drought, Drought, Groundwater, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

Another dry winter forces political pressure for action.

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

On Meeting the Colorado River for the First Time

March 26, 2015/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Circle of Blue reporter Brett Walton tastes the iconic river. Photo © Brett Walton / Circle of Blue Circle of Blue’s Brett Walton stands by the Colorado River, in Grand Canyon National Park. Click image to enlarge. Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona — The sunlight had not yet flooded the river’s inner canyon 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, March 23: More Water for Lake Mead, But Record Lows Are on the Horizon

March 23, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Bureau of Reclamation juggles water between the largest reservoirs in the West. An Illinois aquifer gets protected status. A promising drought forecast for the southern Great Plains. Western Governors urge more federal spending on water. Senate Democrats introduce a $US 50 million water infrastructure bill. “The most important thing we have to do […]

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