Cal. Wat. Code § 10504.01
Each petition for assignment of all or a portion of an application filed pursuant to this part, which application has not been completed in accordance with law and the regulations of the board, shall include as a part thereof a proposed completed application consistent with the requested assignment, and describing petitioner's proposed project. As soon as practicable after the receipt of such petition the board shall issue and deliver a notice of the petition and proposed completed application in accordance with Article 1 (commencing with Section 1300), Chapter 3, Part 2, Division 2 of this code and shall also deliver a copy of the notice to the department and to the board of supervisors of each county in which the water originates and in which the water is to be used. Further procedure with respect to each such petition shall be in accordance with Chapters 3 (commencing with Section 1300), 4 (commencing with Section 1330) and 5 (commencing with Section 1340), Part 2, Division 2 of this code relating to notice, protests, hearing, and action on applications for permits to appropriate water. The hearing shall be for the purpose of determining whether the application should be assigned pursuant to Sections 10504 and 10505 and whether the proposed completed application submitted by the petitioner should be approved in whole or in part. When the board's determination is favorable to the petitioner, it shall assign all or a portion of the application to the petitioner, accept and approve the assigned portion, and issue a permit as in other cases provided by law. Any portion of the application which is not assigned shall remain with the board subject to further disposition by it pursuant to the provisions of this part.
Two or more petitions for assignment of the same or related applications may be consolidated for purposes of hearing and determination with each other and with other applications, in the discretion of the board.
Ca. Water Code § 10504.01