SECTIONS 2550-2555 - California Statutes

WATER CODE

SECTION 2550-2555

2550. 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.

2551. 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.

2552. 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.

2553. 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.

2554. 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.

2555. 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.