California is facing a water crisis. The state has one of the most engineered and over-subscribed water systems in the world, meaning significantly more water is promised to users than is actually available. And climate change is making the swings between drought and deluge more severe and unpredictable. Communities, agriculture, and businesses are suffering from the stateÕs broken water system and unpredictable water supply, as are freshwater plants and animals. More than half of our freshwater species and 90% of our endemic species are at risk of extinction. One of the keys to increasing the resilience of our water supply is groundwater. Groundwater provides 38% of the stateÕs water in normal years, and up to 60% in times of drought. ItÕs essential to supplying water to nature and people, as well as growing the food we eat. Oversight and management of this hidden resource has historically been limited, but on 2014, California passed the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA) which regulates groundwater at scale for the first time, requiring the stateÕs largest source of stored water to be managed for long-term resilience. SGMA delegates the responsibility of achieving sustainable groundwater management by 2042 to local Groundwater Sustainability Agencies (GSAs). Balancing groundwater basins to achieve sustainability will require increasing water supply to the basin and/or decreasing water demand. . Who is TNC and TNCÕs Principles of Corporate Engagement The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world's toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at unprecedented scale, and helping make cities more sustainable with ambitious 2030 goals. Working in more than 72 countries, we use a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit www.nature.org. For more information on TNCÕs 2030 Goals, go here: https://tnc.box.com/s/bcuyuinrtbdbesovxy5fr51h22amr3tc TNCÕs Principles of Corporate Engagement All of TNCÕs corporate engagements must have conservation benefits with lasting, measurable outcomes, and a direct connection to our mission. Please review our Principles of Corporate Engagement, which all engagements must meet: https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/how-we-work/working-with-companies/corporate-principles/