(1) The state engineer shall secure the limited or temporary services of persons necessary to carry out the duties or functions of the division of water resources in cases where it would be infeasible or impractical for regular state employees to perform the duties or functions, especially in the following instances:

(a) In which work is of such a nature as to require special training or aptitudes and is of such limited application that the full-time regular employment normally expected of state employees would be unduly expensive;

(b)In nonrecurring situations of limited duration in which the situation can be concluded within a reasonable time by special assistants but could not be concluded without such assistance;

(c) To meet emergencies that reasonable foresight could not have anticipated; and

(d) To furnish services that the state engineer may require of persons who deal with the state engineer's office and who will fully reimburse the state engineer for the services.

(2) Whenever there are more hearings or determinations before the state engineer and the division engineers than can be acted upon promptly, the state engineer shall employ and maintain adequate personnel to assist the state engineer and the division engineers in arriving at required determinations. Regular employees may provide such assistance or, in cases falling within the purview of subsection (1) of this section, temporary employees on a contract basis may provide such assistance.

(3) In the same manner provided for in subsection (2) of this section, the state engineer may employ and maintain personnel to adequately staff any water conservation project provided for by law.

(4) The state engineer shall employ and maintain appropriate personnel for keeping records and making investigations respecting the performance of the functions of the state engineer's office and shall provide similar personnel in the office of each division engineer to function under the general direction of the office.