1. The department shall, if appropriations are available therefor, provide the board with such office space and equipment, clerical, technical, scientific, engineering, legal and other personnel and services as are reasonably necessary to assist the board in carrying out its functions, and shall fix the compensation, within appropriations available therefor, of such personnel. The department may enter into and execute contracts in the manner and form prescribed by law for technical, scientific, engineering and legal services to be made available for the board's functions, and may enter into cooperative agreements with federal agencies for research, the investigation, collection, compilation, study and analysis of information and data on the water resources and the hydrology of the state, and for the preparation and publication of reports thereon.

2. The department shall cooperate with the board and render to it advisory and consultant services whenever practicable.

3. The department shall endeavor to coordinate the activities of existing agencies and departments of the state charged with functions involving waters and to secure their cooperation with and assistance for the board in carrying out its functions, and provide the means for coordination of the studies and development plans of all regional boards;

4. The department shall keep a true and accurate account of all expenditures incurred on behalf of the board including, but not limited to, those incurred for all proceedings, hearings (except the hearing required by section 15-1103), notifications, clerical, technical, engineering, legal and other services and expenses;

5. The department shall, within a reasonable time after the plan has been approved or disapproved, submit an itemized statement of the costs and expenses so incurred and expended to the county legislative body. Notice shall be attached to such statement that, under title 11 of this article, twenty-five per cent of the cost and expenses is a county charge which, if more than one county is involved, is to be equitably apportioned among them; that the counties may by agreement determine such equitable apportionment within sixty days from the date of such notice, and, that in the failure of the counties so to agree, the department, on a specified date after such sixty day period has expired, will hear the counties at its office and proceed to make an equitable apportionment of the county charge;

6. The department shall recommend legislation to accomplish and further the planning and development program of the water resources of the state.