Section 15-0301. Investigations

1.  The  department  may,  of its own motion, make or cause to be made
  such surveys and investigations as it may deem advisable  and  necessary
  for the discharge of its duties under this article.
    2.  The  department, upon its own motion, or upon a petition presented
  to it by a person or public corporation pursuant to provisions  of  this
  article,  may  in its discretion, extend the scope of such proceeding to
  any improvements or developments of natural resources which may be  done
  under  any  provisions of this article, and if any part of the procedure
  governing the matters concerning which the petition is presented  cannot
  be  made  applicable  in  all  respects  to  the  subject  matter of the
  proceedings as thus  extended,  then  the  procedure  peculiar  to  such
  additional  matter as provided for in this article may be adopted to the
  extent necessary.
    3.  The  department  shall  make  or  cause  to  be  made   continuing
  investigations  of  the water resources of the state so as to accumulate
  comprehensive  data  as  a  basis  of   providing   for   their   proper
  conservation, development, regulation and use.
    4.  The  department  shall  conduct systematic gauging of rainfall and
  stream  flow  throughout  the  state  when  moneys   shall   have   been
  appropriated therefor.