California is ensnared in a complex water crisis that includes a rapid decline of aquatic and riparian biodiversity and an increasingly limited supply of freshwater for agricultural, industrial, environmental and residential uses. As a leading environmental science and advocacy organization, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is positioned to be a key player in shifting California towards a smarter water future.

However, TNC faces significant economic, cultural and political hurdles to achieving a scaled impact. Root Solutions and Stanford ChangeLabs were commissioned to help TNC map the California water system, set the stage for a successful stakeholder engagement process, and increase the organization’s internal capacity for innovation. This was accomplished through interviews, workshops, systems mapping and behavioral intervention planning.