Many independent farms draw water from a shared underground reserve. Each pumps as much as it needs; no one can see how much is left, because the reserve is underground and its level is expensive and slow to measure. The reserve refills extremely slowly. If it is drawn down past a certain point the ground compacts and the reserve's capacity is permanently lost — it does not come back even if pumping stops. Right now everything looks fine to each farmer: the water still flows. There is no central owner; the farms are independent and compete, and each has strong near-term reasons to keep pumping. A regional body can set rules, fund measurement, and change what farms know and are accountable for, but cannot cheaply meter every well or instantly change the reserve's physics.

Decision required: Design how the farms and the regional body should manage the reserve so it remains usable for the long term.

Success criteria: The reserve stays above the point of permanent loss, AND the farms can keep operating. Failure = the reserve crosses into permanent capacity loss, OR rules so harsh they destroy the farms' viability.