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

High Cost of Water Hits Home

May 10, 2022/in Great Lakes, Water News/by Brett Walton

Rising rates hurt the state’s poorest residents.

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 9: Interior Unveils Lake Powell Protection Measures

May 9, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown To protect a shrinking Lake Powell, the feds will hold back more water and call in reinforcement supplies from upstream reservoirs. A Senate committee advances legislation to authorize Army Corps water projects. The GAO reviews the Department of Energy’s nuclear waste cleanups. Water bills introduced in Congress would set timelines for the 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

After Decades of Neglect, Bill Coming Due for Michigan’s Water Infrastructure

May 2, 2022/in Great Lakes, Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Federal and state governments begin to reverse course on underinvestment to address water’s true cost.

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: Senators Release Draft Text of Major Water Resources Legislation

May 2, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Senators release a draft $24.6 billion water resources and infrastructure bill for Army Corps projects. The EPA takes new actions to respond to PFAS chemicals. Senators introduce legislation to ban firefighting foams containing PFAS chemicals, settle water rights for the Hualapai Tribe, and provide grants for under-the-sink water filters. A New Mexico representative […]

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: Colorado River States, Interior Near Completion of 2022 Drought Response Plan

April 25, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Colorado River basin states approve a plan to release more water from high-elevation reservoirs into Lake Powell, to prop up the ailing reservoir. The White House restores a more expansive definition of environmental impacts for federal reviews. The OMB releases guidelines for using American-made materials in federal infrastructure bill projects. The FDA lowers […]

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

War in Ukraine, Drought Converge to Worsen Hunger Crises in Horn of Africa

April 20, 2022/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Record-high global food prices coincide with failed harvests

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: ‘Profound Concerns’ With Lake Powell Prompt Feds To Consider More Colorado River Cutbacks

April 18, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Interior Department notifies Colorado River states that it might hold back more water in Lake Powell this year. Reclamation’s Klamath River basin irrigation allocation pleases no one. The USGS investigates groundwater depletion in southeastern Oregon due to irrigation and maps groundwater levels in New Mexico. The Bureau of Reclamation limits irrigation allocations […]

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: Supreme Court Reinstates Trump-Era Water Rule Related to Fossil Fuel Infrastructure

April 11, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The nation’s high court issues an emergency order that revives, at least temporarily, a ruling that constrains the ability of states and tribes to protect waterways from pollution. The EPA outlines three strategies for addressing nutrient pollution in the nation’s waters. A bank regulator proposes guidelines for managing climate-related financial risks. The Interior […]

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

Inflation Weighs On U.S. Water Utilities

April 7, 2022/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Water leaders worry that rising prices — for everything from lead pipe replacements to treatment plant repairs — will cause a historic federal infrastructure investment to fall short of lofty expectations.

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: EPA Reaffirms Decision Not to Regulate Rocket Fuel Chemical in Drinking Water

April 4, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA maintains a Trump administration decision not to regulate perchlorate in drinking water. The EPA intends to reverse a Trump-era ruling on Washington state water pollution standards related to fish consumption. The EPA also releases a five-year plan with numeric targets for water and other goals. The Bureau of Reclamation announces $420 […]

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 28: Sediment Buildup Decreases Lake Powell Storage Capacity

March 28, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Federal scientists calculate Lake Powell’s loss of storage capacity due to sediment buildup. Financial regulators propose corporate climate disclosure rules. Watchdog agency finds thousands of federally backed home loans in 2020 had inadequate flood insurance. The Army Corps of Engineers considers revising an oil and gas pipeline construction permit due to climate, 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 21: U.S. Forest Service Updates Analysis of Forests and Drinking Water

March 21, 2022/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The U.S. Forest Service’s Forests to Faucets program re-evaluates the connections between forests and watersheds. Lake Powell dipped below 3,525 feet, a level that water users in the basin intended not to breach. House Democrats propose the creation of a Great Lakes Authority to promote economic development and environmental conservation in the eight-state […]

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