The director of the department of water resources is hereby authorized to cooperate with the United States geological survey in the investigation of the water resources and gauging the flow of the streams of the state of Idaho so long as the federal government is engaged in making such measurements and surveys. To that end he is hereby authorized to make the necessary contract or contracts with the director of the United States geological survey whereby a part of the expenses incurred in the making of such surveys, gaugings and measurements may be paid by the state of Idaho, to an amount not to exceed the appropriation hereinafter made. Said contract or contracts shall provide among other things, that the United States geological survey shall furnish to the department of water resources complete and detailed reports of the results obtained by said survey, gaugings and measurements and copies of such original records, plats, notes and other data as shall be required by the department. Such reports, plats, notes, records and data shall be and become a part of the permanent records of the office of the department. All claims for expenses incurred or made hereunder shall be filed, examined, and when allowed, paid out of the state treasury in the same manner that other claims against the state are made, filed, examined and paid.