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

El Nino Is Over But the Damage Continues

April 19, 2016/in Africa, Drought, Water & Climate/by Brett Walton

More than 60 million people face hunger, malnutrition. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue The El Nino that swept the world starting in the summer of 2015 was one of the worst on record, according to leading meteorological agencies, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The weather phenomenon caused by warm ocean water 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, April 18: Two Investigations of Water Practices in California

April 18, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Investigators look into spending on big delta tunnel project and accounting trickery at a big irrigation district in California while a House representative scrutinizes the World Bank’s water practices. Three pipeline safety bills compete for approval while a pipeline to ship oil to Canada undergoes federal review. Senators get a private briefing on […]

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

Israel’s Water Resource Ethic: More With Less

April 14, 2016/in Middle East, Water Management/by Brett Walton

Desert life nurtures respect for water. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue SEDE BOQER, Israel — The restaurant patio at Kornmehl Farm, a family homestead on the northern edge of the Negev desert, is a place for reflection as well as fine food. While reclining on divans shaded by fluorescent awnings, and eating goat cheese […]

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: Agency Officials Testify at Human Right to Water Hearing

April 11, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The U.S. government testifies about domestic water access while a Senate committee held a hearing on water affordability. Klamath River dam removal is back on the table, with two new agreements. The White House warns about the health risks of climate change. The U.S. Geological Survey has funding available for a national groundwater […]

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: Tiny Federal Water Allocation Again for Some California Farmers

April 4, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Lean year again for the west side of California’s Central Valley. Federal coal program undergoes a comprehensive review. Two engineering competitions seek better designs for water problems. Senate committee will discuss water affordability. California groundwater recharge project seeks public comments while a government watchdog says the EPA is failing at overseeing underground waste […]

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

As Groundwater Withdrawals Increase, Jakarta Sinks

March 29, 2016/in Asia, Cities, Water Management, Water News/by Brett Walton

Subsidence strikes the foundations of an Asian megacity. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Jakarta — home to more than 10 million people and the capital of Indonesia, the largest economy in Southeast Asia — is sinking at an increasing rate. The head of Jakarta’s environment agency told Tempo, a news site, that the city’s […]

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: Washington Marks World Water Day

March 28, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown White House summit showcases water action. Companion event urges global response to water crises. Obama administration refocuses on drought planning. The Army Corps cancels billions of dollars of water projects. Research program starts new national initiative on nanotechnology for water. “The premiere strategic threat to global security, and our own, is not 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

Urgent Tone at World Water Day Summit

March 25, 2016/in Water News, Water Risk/by Brett Walton

Water supply a national security issue. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue Gen. James Jones came of age in the U.S. military in a different era. As a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps, his first overseas assignment was in Vietnam, when Cold War politics divided the world in two. That bilateral balance, broken apart […]

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 Affordability Is A New Civil Rights Movement in the United States

March 22, 2016/in United States, Water Policy & Politics, Water Rights/Access/by Brett Walton

Cost of water and sewer services is rising out of reach for hundreds of thousands of Americans. By Brett Walton, Circle of Blue The cost of drinking water and sewer services in the United States, rising on average at twice the rate of inflation, is giving birth to a new civil rights movement, one based […]

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: Growing Calls in Congress for Water Infrastructure Funding

March 21, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Democrats are in front of a water-spending push. Flint hearings turn into a blame game. The nation’s streams are mostly in bad shape for aquatic life. February was historically hot. The Columbia River Treaty will be renegotiated, while tearing down the Klamath River dams gets a second look. A big copper mine proposed […]

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 14: California District Fined for Accounting Deception

March 14, 2016/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A California irrigation district is fined by the Securities and Exchange Commission. Central Asian countries are concerned about water supply but doing little about it. Nitrogen is decreasing in Long Island Sound, while chloride from road salts is rising. A solar power project in Nevada will lease water from an Indian tribe. 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

Water Systems Need Investment and Affordability

March 11, 2016/in Infrastructure, United States, Water Management, Water Pricing/by Brett Walton

Utilities are pulled by opposing economic and infrastructure pressures.

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