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

Concerns over Bottled Water and NAFTA Swirl during British Columbia Drought

July 17, 2015/in Groundwater, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

Citizen petition calls for higher fees on Nestle and other bottled water companies while authorities worry about trade agreement implications.

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

DC Water Increases Rates to Pay for New Infrastructure

July 16, 2015/in North America, Water News, Water Pricing/by Brett Walton

Residents of the nation’s capital will pay a new fixed fee for replacing old pipes.

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 13: Lake Erie Algae Bloom Could Be Second Worst on Record

July 13, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown NOAA scientists update their algae forecast for Lake Erie. California representatives introduce more water legislation while a massive engineering project spawns another environmental review and state regulators approve a reservoir plan to save salmon. NASA studies carbon storage in wetlands. The Obama administration reports on climate actions. Several EPA advisory committees will meet. […]

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

Fear and Hoping in Seattle

July 10, 2015/in Water News/by Brett Walton

All is woe in the water world — or is it? Circle of Blue reporter Brett Walton reflects on an extraordinary summer.

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 6: U.S. Supreme Court to Take Up Water Case in Fall Session

July 6, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Memphis and Mississippi will take their aquifer dispute to the nation’s highest court. California drought legislation will move quickly through the House. Water use per well for fracking skyrockets. States sue over the EPA’s Clean Water Act definition. State and federal gencies outline an Asian carp strategy. “As House Majority Leader and your […]

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

Study: Fracking Water Use Varies in U.S. Oil and Gas Development

July 3, 2015/in North America, Water & Energy, Water News/by Brett Walton

Shale gas basins in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas, and the Appalachian region use the most water per well.

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

In Drying Colorado River Basin, Indian Tribes Are Water Dealmakers

July 1, 2015/in Groundwater, Water News/by Brett Walton

Native Americans hold 20 percent of the basin’s water rights. How they use their water will shape the future of the Southwest.

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 29: Drought Legislation Introduced in Congress; Drought Center Established in Nebraska

June 29, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown California drought bill targets fish, water operations, and storage. NOAA releases nutrient pollution forecasts for Lake Erie and Chesapeake Bay. A new data tool hopes to reduce the risk of dam failure. EPA report looks at the financial costs and benefits of climate action while issuing new regulations for underground storage tanks. NOAA […]

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

In California’s Central Valley, Dry Wells Multiply in the Summer Heat

June 26, 2015/in California, California Drought, Drought, Groundwater, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

Tulare County continues to be the center of the drought’s drinking water crisis.

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 22: California Drought Bill Submitted for Public Review

June 22, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is forecasted to be average. Good news for Lake Mead — more water — but bad news for Lake Shasta: a miscalculation means less cold water for salmon. California drought bill gets a public airing while the Delta tunnels project gets another review. The U.S. Forest Service […]

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

Saving Salmon: California Orders New Water Restrictions

June 20, 2015/in California, California Drought, Drought, Hydropower, North America, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Restrictions target big Sacramento River reservoir and Russian River residents, but effects will ripple through the 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

Groundwater Depletion Stresses Majority of World’s Largest Aquifers

June 16, 2015/in California, Groundwater, Water News/by Brett Walton

Scientists do not know how much groundwater is left.

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

Author Archive for: Brett

About Brett Walton

Entries by Brett Walton