76-5-105. Authority to enter and investigate lands or waters. (1) The department or the responsible political subdivision may make reasonable entry upon any lands and waters in the state for the purpose of making an investigation, survey, removal, or repair contemplated by parts 1 through 4 of this chapter. Unless written consent is obtained, however, the department or the responsible political subdivision shall provide written notice of its entry by personal delivery to the owner, owner's agent, lessee, or lessee's agent whose lands will be entered. If none of these persons can be found, the department or the responsible political subdivision shall affix a copy of the notice to one or more conspicuous places on the property.

(2) An investigation of a natural or artificial obstruction or nonconforming use shall be made by the department or the responsible political subdivision either on its own initiative, on the written request of three titleholders of land abutting the watercourse or drainway involved, or on the written request of a political subdivision. Upon the request of an owner, owner's agent, lessee, or lessee's agent whose lands will be entered to undertake the investigation, the department or the responsible political subdivision shall release the names and addresses of the persons or political subdivision requesting the investigation.