(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), the Division of Water Rights shall conduct a field investigation of all minor protested applications. The board shall notify the parties of the field investigation not less than 20 days prior to conducting the field investigation, to enable the parties to attend and present information to the board.

(b) The Division of Water Rights is not required to conduct a field investigation for an application defined as a minor application under subdivision (b) of Section 1348 if the Division of Water Rights determines, in its discretion, that a field investigation will not substantially expedite consideration of the application and a hearing should be conducted under Section 183. If the Division of Water Rights makes that determination, Sections 1346 and 1347 do not apply to the application.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 678, Sec. 2. (AB 658) Effective January 1, 2020.)