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, January 5: Yucca Mountain Lacks Necessary Water Rights

January 5, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Interior secretary talks about local fracking bans. Yucca Mountain needs water rights while Vermont Yankee nuclear plant shuts down. Water disputes accumulate on the Supreme Court docket. A Keystone XL hearing kicks off the 114th Congress. Environmental reviews begin for invasive species in the Great Lakes and an Arizona copper mine. “I […]

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

2015 Water Preview, Part II: National – States React to New Era of Water Scarcity

January 2, 2015/in California, North America, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Water is priority in state legislatures and governors’ offices.

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

2015 Water Preview, Part I: International – Sustainable Development Goals Push Water to Center Stage

January 1, 2015/in India, Water News/by Brett Walton

Water fits a new global development agenda.

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

American Geophysical Union 2014 Recap: That Sinking, Drying, Sharing Feeling

December 29, 2014/in California/by Brett Walton

Water features prominently at world’s largest Earth sciences conference. Image courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user molas The American Geophysical Union fall meeting is the world’s largest gathering of the Earth sciences. Some 24,000 people attended the December 15-19 conference in San Francisco. Click image to enlarge. San Francisco — Here, among the hydrologists, seismologists, […]

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, December 29: A Preview of the 2015 Regulatory Agenda

December 29, 2014/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Federal agencies release regulatory schedules for 2015. The EPA hands out a record Clean Water Act penalty. A Bureau of Reclamation study looks at tribal water use in the Colorado River Basin. President Obama signs a bill for drinking water and sanitation in poor countries. “Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services […]

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, December 22: Colorado River – Pulses, Surpluses, and Cooperation

December 22, 2014/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Colorado River Delta is greener thanks to cooperation between Mexico and the United States. The Interior secretary talks about water. Jail time could be coming for the individuals responsible for the West Virginia chemical spill. Sea-level rise will increase nuisance floods. “Our role is as a convener, making sure all parties are […]

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

North American Fossil Fuel Boom Raises Risks From Expanding Oil and Gas Transport Network

December 15, 2014/in North America, Water & Energy, Water News/by Brett Walton

Surge in oil and gas production has seen more spills that are harming water supplies. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Just west of the Mackinac Bridge, twin oil pipelines cross the Straits of Mackinac, a fast-flowing channel that connects Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. A series of oil pipeline spills 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, December 15: Budget Deal Holds Spending Steady on Water Infrastructure, Great Lakes

December 15, 2014/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Budget deal preserves water infrastructure spending and includes guidelines for financing large dams abroad. NOAA scientists examine the causes of the California drought while the House passes drought legislation. The Ogallala Aquifer continues shrinking and ecosystems along the Mexico-U.S. border need comprehensive solutions. Seven rivers will get protected status and the Great Lakes […]

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

Yes, It’s Raining in California. No, the Drought Is Not Over

December 12, 2014/in California, California Drought, Drought, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

Just look at the Texas drought — California could be waiting years to recover.

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

State Water Plans Are Coming Due

December 10, 2014/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Reporter Brett Walton previews two plans — in Arkansas and Colorado — that will be unveiled this week, in addition to the Kansas plan that is due out next 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

Water Supply at Risk, Las Vegas Considers $650 Million Insurance Policy

December 9, 2014/in Infrastructure, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

A new pumping station would draw water from the bottom of a shrinking Lake Mead.

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, December 8: House Republicans Push for California Drought Bill

December 8, 2014/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown House Republicans try again to send more water to San Joaquin Valley farmers, but President Obama says he’ll veto the bill. The Senate Agriculture Committee talks about agriculture and water pollution, while a Seattle Superfund site gets a $US 342 million prescription. Congress passes a water rights settlement in the Colorado River Basin […]

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