Some lawmakers in the U.S. state of California want to use taxpayer money to buy out farmers.A proposal in the state Senate would spend up to $1.5 billion for their "senior water rights."That would permit farmers to take as much water as needed from the state's rivers and streams to grow their crops.If state officials owned those rights, they could leave the water in the rivers to aid endangered salmon and other fish.California has faced severe lack of water for most of the last 20 years.Lawmakers want to more closely examine the state's complex water system to see how it might be changed to ensure continual supplies during especially dry periods.A separate state proposal would pay farmers to grow fewer crops to save water.Currently, about 98 percent of the state has severe drought conditions.Summer months in California rarely produce any major rainfall.Many areas have begun restricting water use for homeowners.And farmers have had their water supply from the two major state-owned water systems reduced or, in some cases, completely shut off.
