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, June 12: NOAA Expects Below-Average Gulf of Mexico Dead Zone This Summer

June 12, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown NOAA foresees a smaller low-oxygen dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. The Army Corps launches a five-year study to inform the management of the lower Mississippi River. The Army Corps also reevaluates water infrastructure needs for Everglades restoration and revokes a water quality permit for a proposed copper-nickel mine in Minnesota. The […]

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

Say Goodbye to Lawns in Drying U.S. West

June 7, 2023/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Booming metro areas test the limits of water supply and growth.

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 5: Debt Limit Deal Changes Environmental Permitting

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

The Rundown The debt limit standoff opened the door to changes in project permits. The Bureau of Reclamation has up to $40 million for projects to reduce salt in the Colorado River. There is little change in the latest Lake Erie harmful algal bloom forecast. Federal wildfire forecast shows significant fire potential this summer 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, May 30: Supreme Court Narrows Wetlands Protections

May 30, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The U.S. Supreme Court limits federal wetlands protections. After a last-minute deal, the Bureau of Reclamation suspends environmental review of its Colorado River plan to analyze the new proposal. Comment deadline approaches for changes in White House guidelines for analyzing costs and benefits of federal regulations. A West Virginia county will benefit from […]

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 22: EPA Proposes Additional Coal Ash Protections

May 22, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA wants to expand the number of coal ash facilities regulated to protect water bodies from contaminants. Lawmakers in Congress introduce bills on hydropower reform, mining law reform, and water technology adoption. The EPA orders Baltimore to protect its drinking water reservoirs from animal waste. A USDA survey finds that nitrate is […]

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 15: Appeals Court Orders EPA to Regulate Drinking Water Contaminant

May 15, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Federal judges order the EPA to set a limit on perchlorate in drinking water. Federal fisheries regulators propose a salmon experiment in northern California. The Department of Energy wants public input on priority electric transmission line corridors. The DOE also announces funding for hydroelectric dam operators to update their infrastructure. The Army Corps […]

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

Louisiana Becomes First State to Issue Drinking Water Report Cards

May 11, 2023/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Move aims for transparency and to identify struggling water systems.

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 8: EPA Agrees to Timeline for Updating Slaughterhouse Water Pollution Standards

May 8, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The EPA agrees to a timeline for updating slaughterhouse water pollution standards. With higher water releases this year, temporary “shadow accounting” on the Colorado River system goes away. Lawmakers introduce bills on PFAS liability for water utilities and labeling non-flushable wipes. House Republican proposal to address the debt ceiling would cut funding 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

Federal Water Tap, May 1: White House Establishes Office of Environmental Justice

May 1, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service funds projects to improve fish passage in streams. President Biden’s executive order establishes an Office of Environmental Justice. The Bureau of Reclamation will release extra water to Lake Mead in this wet year. The EPA’s watchdog audits the agency’s oversight duties in jet fuel leak at Hawaiʻi […]

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

Cholera Cases Spike Amid Extreme Weather, Conflict

April 27, 2023/in Water News, WEF/by Brett Walton

Without clean water and sanitation, disease outbreaks multiply.

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 24: Pennsylvania’s Pollution Failures Targeted in Proposed Chesapeake Bay Settlement

April 24, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown Under a proposed settlement, the EPA will scrutinize Pennsylvania’s water pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The U.S. Forest Service begins re-examining climate resilience policies for forests and grasslands. The House fails to overturn President Biden’s veto of legislation to reduce Clean Water Act protections. The National Interagency Fire Center publishes a three-month […]

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 17: BLM Proposes Elevating Land and Water Conservation

April 17, 2023/in Federal Water Tap/by Brett Walton

The Rundown A BLM proposal puts land and water conservation on the same level as mining and grazing. The Interior Department outlines options for Colorado River water supply cuts. A federal judge blocks the Biden administration’s Clean Water Act definition in 24 states. A watchdog agency assesses the Interior Department’s progress on abandoned oil and […]

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