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, June 27: Forest Service Errors Led to New Mexico Wildfire

June 27, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The U.S. Forest Service examines mistakes that turned a prescribed burn in New Mexico into the state’s largest-ever wildfire. USAID releases a draft version of its contribution to the government’s global water strategy. The Bureau of Reclamation asks the public what to do about water in the Colorado River basin. The EPA’s internal […]

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

EPA Warns of Health Problems When PFAS Levels in Drinking Water Are Inconceivably Tiny

June 22, 2022/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Revised health advisories are a precursor to federal regulation.

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 20: EPA Issues PFAS Warning and Troubled Colorado River Is Focus of Senate Hearing

June 20, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA strengthens non-binding health advisories for two PFAS chemicals and issued new advisories for two others. The EPA appraises end-of-life plans for more than 160 coal ash ponds that could be polluting groundwater. The EPA also invites applications for $1 billion in PFAS response funds that will help small and disadvantaged communities […]

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

Drought’s Spillover Effect in the American West

June 16, 2022/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

In a region latticed with pipelines and canals, the consequences of dry conditions in one basin are exported to neighboring watersheds.

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 13: Biden Mentions Watershed Protection Before New Mexico Fire Briefing

June 13, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown President Biden, while in New Mexico, notes the harm that forest fires can wreak on a watershed. The House passes a $25 billion water resources bill. Commodity futures regulators want more information on climate change and financial risk. An EPA report outlines strategies for reducing the destruction of coastal wetlands. NOAA forecasts an […]

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

What Does Water Want? A Conversation with Author Erica Gies

June 7, 2022/in Water News/by Brett Walton

Problems and opportunities spring from the mismatch between the natural world and the built environment.

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

What Happens If Glen Canyon Dam’s Power Shuts Off?

June 6, 2022/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Lake Powell is drying behind one of the Southwest’s largest hydropower plants.

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 6: White House Links Water and National Security

June 6, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Biden administration outlines its priorities for global water security. The Defense Department releases new data on PFAS found in drinking water near its bases. The Bureau of Reclamation restarts a salinity control facility in the Colorado River basin. EPA science advisers publish a report evaluating the agency’s Waters of the U.S. proposal. […]

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 31: EPA Proposes Protection for Salmon-Rich Bristol Bay

May 31, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA intends to deny a Clean Water Act permit for a mine development in Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed. NOAA expects another above-average Atlantic hurricane season. Officials sign a Navajo-Utah water rights settlement. The EPA announces an interagency working group for water reuse. The CDC surveys O’ahu residents for health problems after 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

Federal Water Tap, May 23: House Committee Advances Water Resources Bill

May 23, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A House committee followed its Senate counterpart and endorsed a key bill to authorize Army Corps water projects. An early-season forecast indicates a moderate harmful algal bloom in Lake Erie this summer. A GAO report recommends better federal agency coordination to help Alaska Native villages address environmental change. An inspector general’s investigation clears […]

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 16: House Committee Alleges Criminal Activity

May 16, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The House Natural Resources Committee tells the Justice Department it should investigate alleged criminal activity from a top Trump administration official. The EPA proposes a waiver, applicable to projects in the design phase, from American-sourced materials requirements in the infrastructure bill. To prevent manatees from dying, an EPA regional administrator says that Florida […]

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

Michigan’s ‘Very Big Opportunity’ in Infrastructure Windfall

May 11, 2022/in Great Lakes, Water News/by Brett Walton

More communities gain access to the largest federal infusion in a half-century.

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