While the leaders of the Lake Tahoe region deal with the impact of millions of visitors each year and the trash they leave behind, the lake itself is currently the clearest it has been since the 1980s.

Some of the 15 million tourists that visit Lake Tahoe each year are threatening its natural beauty, along with some unruly residents. Now, a new plan is being launched to protect this gem.

During a typical year, aquifers provide around 40 percent of the water the state uses; in drought years, that percentage soars to 60 percent or more. The state’s aquifers can hold a lot of water, but that number isn’t infinite, and California’s current rate of overdraft isn’t sustainable.

From diving for a shipwreck in shark-infested waters to working at the nexus of ocean science and policy, Dr. Amber Mace’s career has spanned 30 years and thousands of miles of coastal waters.

According to one watchdog agency, California is “falling short” in its ambitious organic waste recycling efforts and may need to hit the pause button until state agencies and local governments can sort themselves out.