Article 3. Investigation Of Stream System of California Water Code >> Division 2. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 3. >> Article 3.

As soon as practicable after granting the petition, the board shall begin an investigation of the stream system, of the diversion of water, of all beneficial uses being made of the water, and of the water supply available for those uses, and shall gather such other data and information as may be essential to the proper determination of the water rights in the stream system.

During the investigation the representatives of the board shall, after 30 days' notice in writing to each person who has given notice of intent to file proof of claim, conduct a detailed field investigation of such person's use of water, and shall determine the acreage under irrigation or otherwise define the place of use and purpose of use, determine the location and capacity of such person's diversion works and conduits conveying water from the stream system, and the amount of water diverted and reasonably required to satisfy the uses being made. It shall be the duty of each claimant to be present at some time during the detailed field investigation either in person or by an agent who is authorized to sign the proof of claim.

Each claimant shall have available at the detailed field investigation all pertinent information on the extent and nature of the claimant's water use and basis of water right, so as to expedite the investigation and facilitate the completion of the proof of claim.

Immediately upon conclusion of the detailed field investigation, the claimant or the claimant's representative shall be provided, by registered mail, a blank form of proof of claim and a copy of the factual determinations of the representatives of the board for use in preparing the proof of claim.

During the investigation of the stream system, the board shall also conduct detailed field investigations of projects of all water users known to the board who have not filed a notice of intent to file proof of claim. Such investigations shall be in accordance with Section 2551, except that the water users need not be notified in advance of the investigation.

Water users not present during conduct of the detailed field investigation and those not filing notice of intent shall, insofar as they are known, be supplied a copy of the factual determinations of the representative of the board and a blank form of proof of claim and shall be allowed to file proof of claim after completion of the detailed investigation of their project by the representatives of the board on the same basis as persons who were present and who filed timely notices of intent.