The director of the department of water resources shall make or cause to be made careful measurements of the flow in cubic feet per second of the various streams in the state whose waters are, or are likely to be, appropriated and used, through that part of the season which he may deem necessary or expedient, to afford information for irrigating purposes, commencing with those streams most used for irrigation. The director shall collect facts and make surveys to ascertain suitable locations for reservoirs upon streams where such reservoirs may be possible and beneficial, and shall, as far as possible, determine the cost of constructing such reservoirs, and all other facts possible in regard to quantity of water possible to be stored, the character and extent of land that may be reclaimed by the water from such reservoirs, together with all other information possible that may bear upon the subject. The director shall become familiar with the waterways and irrigable land in the state and the needs of the state as to irrigation matters, and all records of any such information shall be the property of the state and open to public inspection. The director shall keep full and complete records of all measurements of streams, surveys, examinations or other valuable information that may come into his possession concerning any of the duties of the department, and shall furnish reasonable information in regard to such measurements or surveys to the newspapers of the state upon proper request.