It is the policy and purpose of the Alabama Legislature to assure that the state at all times has an abundance of water, both as to its quantity and quality, necessary to meet the requirements of an expanding population and industrial community and, to help achieve this objective, to stimulate, sponsor and provide for the conduct of research, investigations and experiments in the field of water and resources as they affect water and to encourage the training of scientists in fields related to water by aiding in establishing and supporting an institute or center at Auburn University for the development of a water resources research program.