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

California’s Record Heat Magnified Drought Woes in 2014

January 16, 2015/in California, California Drought, North America, Water News/by Brett Walton

Precipitation was near average, but temperatures smashed the previous heat record.

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

World Economic Forum Ranks Water Crises as Top Global Risk

January 15, 2015/in California, China, India, Water News/by Brett Walton

Water rises on the world agenda.

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, January 12: Bureau of Reclamation Reviews Water Projects in California and Washington

January 12, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Bureau of Reclamation analyzes a California recycled water project and a linking of reservoirs in Washington state. President Obama opposes Keystone XL legislation. Texas assesses an oil spill, while the Food and Drug Administration releases new draft rules for irrigation water. Scientists begin a California weather study. And 2014 was hot, hot, […]

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

Video: U.S.-China Climate Pact Is the Real Deal

January 5, 2015/in China/by Brett Walton

Circle of Blue’s Keith Schneider discusses the implications of the landmark climate agreement.

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, January 5: Yucca Mountain Lacks Necessary Water Rights

January 5, 2015/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Interior secretary talks about local fracking bans. Yucca Mountain needs water rights while Vermont Yankee nuclear plant shuts down. Water disputes accumulate on the Supreme Court docket. A Keystone XL hearing kicks off the 114th Congress. Environmental reviews begin for invasive species in the Great Lakes and an Arizona copper mine. “I […]

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

2015 Water Preview, Part II: National – States React to New Era of Water Scarcity

January 2, 2015/in California, North America, Water News, Water Policy & Politics/by Brett Walton

Water is priority in state legislatures and governors’ offices.

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

2015 Water Preview, Part I: International – Sustainable Development Goals Push Water to Center Stage

January 1, 2015/in India, Water News/by Brett Walton

Water fits a new global development agenda.

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

American Geophysical Union 2014 Recap: That Sinking, Drying, Sharing Feeling

December 29, 2014/in California/by Brett Walton

Water features prominently at world’s largest Earth sciences conference. Image courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons user molas The American Geophysical Union fall meeting is the world’s largest gathering of the Earth sciences. Some 24,000 people attended the December 15-19 conference in San Francisco. Click image to enlarge. San Francisco — Here, among the hydrologists, seismologists, […]

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, December 29: A Preview of the 2015 Regulatory Agenda

December 29, 2014/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Federal agencies release regulatory schedules for 2015. The EPA hands out a record Clean Water Act penalty. A Bureau of Reclamation study looks at tribal water use in the Colorado River Basin. President Obama signs a bill for drinking water and sanitation in poor countries. “Inadequate access to safe water and sanitation services […]

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, December 22: Colorado River – Pulses, Surpluses, and Cooperation

December 22, 2014/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The Colorado River Delta is greener thanks to cooperation between Mexico and the United States. The Interior secretary talks about water. Jail time could be coming for the individuals responsible for the West Virginia chemical spill. Sea-level rise will increase nuisance floods. “Our role is as a convener, making sure all parties are […]

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

North American Fossil Fuel Boom Raises Risks From Expanding Oil and Gas Transport Network

December 15, 2014/in North America, Water & Energy, Water News/by Brett Walton

Surge in oil and gas production has seen more spills that are harming water supplies. Photo © J. Carl Ganter / Circle of Blue Just west of the Mackinac Bridge, twin oil pipelines cross the Straits of Mackinac, a fast-flowing channel that connects Lake Michigan to Lake Huron. A series of oil pipeline spills 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, December 15: Budget Deal Holds Spending Steady on Water Infrastructure, Great Lakes

December 15, 2014/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Budget deal preserves water infrastructure spending and includes guidelines for financing large dams abroad. NOAA scientists examine the causes of the California drought while the House passes drought legislation. The Ogallala Aquifer continues shrinking and ecosystems along the Mexico-U.S. border need comprehensive solutions. Seven rivers will get protected status and the Great Lakes […]

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