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, September 25: Army Corps Begins to Raise Underwater Barrier in Mississippi River to Hold Back Saltwater

September 25, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Army Corps responds to low Mississippi River levels in Louisiana that threaten drinking water. EPA announces WIFIA water infrastructure money for 2023 and technical assistance funds for disadvantaged communities. The National Park Service endorses a swamp in southeast Georgia as a potential World Heritage Site. The Justice Department limits attorney’s fees for Camp […]

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, September 18: Survey Data Shows Households Behind on Water Bills

September 18, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Interagency working group recommends changes to federal mining laws. EPA drinking water infrastructure report to Congress includes new data on lead service lines. CDC researchers use wastewater to track influenza and RSV. NOAA expects El Niño to extend at least through March 2024. Senate hearings this week on drought and water, and tribal […]

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, September 11: EPA Slow to Intervene When Lead Found In Michigan City’s Drinking Water, Watchdog Says

September 11, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA’s internal watchdog assesses the agency’s response to high lead levels in a Michigan city’s drinking water. NOAA scientists review last year’s changes in the planet’s climate systems. The U.S. Geological Survey outlines a research program for freshwater mussels in the U.S. EPA tentatively agrees on a timeline for regulating water pollution […]

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

Chicago Suburbs, Running Out of Water, Will Tap Lake Michigan

September 6, 2023/in Water News/by Brett Walton

America’s groundwater is now running dry where water is abundant.

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, September 5: EPA Reduces Wetlands Protections in Accordance with Supreme Court Decision

September 5, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown EPA and Army Corps revise the protected wetlands definition to align with the U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision. White House advisory group recommends a federal Department of Water. EPA approves an on-site wastewater treatment facility for the East Palestine train derailment cleanup. Federal transportation regulator considers defining when pipeline accidents cause “significant injury […]

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, August 28: NOAA Updates High Tide Flood Forecast Tool

August 28, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Department of Energy funds research for using oilfield wastewater to produce hydrogen. The EPA Office of the Inspector General says the agency needs clearer guidance on calculating cumulative impacts of pollution. When Congress returns next month, the farm bill will be top of the agenda. A bill in Congress would reform 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 Is Us’: New Book Offers Blueprint for Sustainable Water Future

August 23, 2023/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

The Three Ages of Water looks back at history to write a prescription for tomorrow.

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 Water Transition: A Conversation with Author Peter Gleick

August 22, 2023/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Discussing the past and future of 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, August 21: Smaller Colorado River Cuts in 2024 Operating Plan

August 21, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Thanks to a wet winter, Colorado River states, for now, see smaller cuts to water allocations. The first batch of EPA-mandated utility testing data shows the breadth of PFAS in drinking water. EPA denies a petition to strengthen water pollution requirements for large animal feeding operations. EPA adds PFAS and coal ash as […]

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, August 14: EPA Investigates Civil Rights Complaint Against California Water Board

August 14, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown EPA investigates alleged discrimination by California’s top water regulator. The EPA has until August 15 to respond to a lawsuit to strengthen water pollution standards for large-scale animal feedlots. The White House designates more than 917,000 acres near the Grand Canyon as a national monument. DOE to develop a “gold star” rating program […]

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, August 7: Agencies to Assess Value of Nature

August 7, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Biden administration proposes guidelines for valuing ecosystems in cost-benefit analyses. The administration also releases key themes for the upcoming National Nature Assessment. A federal advisory council adopts a policy on preserving historic sites vulnerable to a changing climate. The Justice Department proposes standards for web content accessibility that would affect municipal utilities. […]

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, July 31: Army Corps Dredges Upper Mississippi as River Levels Drop

July 31, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Army Corps dredges river channels as drought again depletes the Mississippi River. Senate committee passes budget bills that maintain water infrastructure spending levels. Lake Erie harmful algal bloom forecast worsens. Army Corps says it needs $3 billion more to complete levee system west of New Orleans and it lowers the risk rating for […]

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