Efforts continue to maintain the State’s water volume and quality.

The Texas Water Action Collaborative (TxWAC) has received a new investment from Meta, according to a press release from Texan by Nature, which describes itself as “an accelerator for conservation groups and a strategic partner for business, we drive collaboration in conservation, communities, and industry for real, science-based impact.”

TxWAC “matches companies and funders with conservation projects to positively benefit Texas’ water resources.”

Meta Platforms Inc., formerly known as Facebook Inc., is a conglomerate dedicated to facilitating connections through technology. The company owns popular platforms for both business and social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

“Meta has a goal to restore more water than it consumes by 2030. They invest in water restoration projects that help replenish watersheds near locations where they operate,” reads the press release.

“Collaboration, engaging with experts, and supporting established initiatives in the climate space is a pillar of our sustainability strategy,” said Stefanie Woodward, Meta’s sustainability program manager, according to the press release. “We’re excited to extend TxWAC’s mission to the rest of Texas to play a role in shaping the way partnerships take place to benefit communities and natural resources,” she continued.

Officials at Texan by Nature anticipate that the state population of about 29 million will double by the year 2050, presenting a strain on the state’s infrastructure and resources. A previous investment from the Hess Corporation allowed for the expansion of TxWAC to the Lower Trinity River Basin in 2022.

According to the Texas State Water Plan, nearly half of state water resources in the future will need to be sourced from water conservation efforts.

Texan by Nature boasts that over $2 million in new water conservation investments have been activated since 2021.

The organization describes Meta’s investment as “foundational.”

“We’re proud to see TxWAC become the hub for accelerating investments and impact through collaborative partnerships between nonprofit, corporate, and community stakeholders,” said Joni Carswell, president and CEO of Texan by Nature, according to the press release. “Meta’s leadership in the expansion of TxWAC will multiply these partnerships, elevating new projects to positively impact communities across Texas,” she continued.

The organization is hosting its next bi-monthly stakeholder meeting on May 23. The meetings aim “to provide a collaborative space to share updates, learn more about projects that needed funding, explore conservation tools/services, and hear more from businesses on their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) goals/funding priorities” and include policy updates from the Texas Water Foundation.  Anyone interested in attending the meeting, which takes place via Zoom, can register here.