A copy of the petition and all maps and other papers filed with the board of county commissioners shall be filed in the office of the department of water resources by the board at least four (4) weeks prior to the date set for the hearing. The department may examine the petition, maps and other papers and if it deems it necessary, the department may prepare a report upon the matter in such form as it deems advisable. Any report prepared by the department shall be submitted to the board a minimum of seven (7) calendar days before the hearing on the petition and shall be available for public inspection. It shall be the duty of the board to notify the department of water resources of the final action, either favorable or unfavorable, taken on a petition for the partition of an irrigation district.