California Code, Water Code - WAT § 1055

(a) The executive director of the board may issue a complaint to any person or entity on which administrative civil liability may be imposed pursuant to Section 1052, Article 4 (commencing with Section 1845) of Chapter 12 of Part 2 of Division 2, or Section 5107.  The complaint shall allege the act or failure to act that constitutes a trespass or violation, the provision of law authorizing civil liability to be imposed, and the proposed civil liability.

(b) The complaint shall be served by personal notice, certified mail, in accordance with the manner of service of a summons under Article 3 (commencing with Section 415.10) of, and Article 4 (commencing with Section 416.10) of, Chapter 4 of Title 5 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure, or by any method of physical delivery that provides a receipt.  The complaint shall inform the party served that the party may request a hearing not later than 20 days from the date the party was served and that the board may adopt an order setting administrative civil liability based on the allegations set forth in the complaint without a hearing if the party does not sign a written request for a hearing that is delivered to, or received by mail by, the board within 20 days after the date the party was served.  The hearing shall be before the board or a member of the board, in accordance with Section 183.  For purposes of this subdivision, “physical delivery that provides a receipt” includes physical delivery methods that provide electronic confirmation of delivery to the intended address.

(c) The board, after any necessary hearing, may adopt an order setting administrative civil liability, or determining that a liability shall not be imposed.

(d) Orders setting administrative civil liability shall become effective and final upon issuance thereof and payment shall be made.