All reports of hydrographic surveys of the waters of any stream system, or parts thereof, and other surveys heretofore or hereafter made by the state engineer, or under his authority, or by any engineer of the United States, or any other engineer, in the opinion of the state engineer qualified to make the same, may, when made in writing and signed by the party making the same, be filed in the office of such state engineer, and the originals or certified copies thereof, made by such state engineer, shall be received and considered in evidence in the trial of all causes involving the data shown in such survey, the same as though testified to by the person making the same, subject to rebuttal, the same as in ordinary cases.