(a) Subject to the approval of the Kansas water authority, the office may recommend to any agency of the federal government the inclusion in any proposed or authorized federal project of any conservation storage features for water supply that the office expects will be needed within the state in the future for the achievement of the purposes of this act and the office may extend to and procure for any agency of the federal government reasonable assurances and evidence that such expected future demands for the use of such storage will be made within a period of time which will permit payment of the costs allocated to such purposes within the life of the project, if such assurances have been authorized by the state water plan.

(b) When, in addition to actions taken under subsection (a), the office shall find it necessary or desirable for the achievement of the purposes of this act, the office may enter into agreements with the federal government for the repayment of costs for the inclusion of any conservation storage features for water supply that the office expects will be needed within the state in the future for achievement of such purposes if such agreements have been authorized by the state water plan and a person or persons have contracted for the use of a substantial portion of the recommended conservation storage and that such person or persons will use the water supply thereof within a period of time which will permit them to pay their proportionate share of the costs allocated to such needs within the life of the project.

(c) Any person wishing the office to make a recommendation for storage features for expected future water supply needs, as provided in subsection (a), may petition the office and show that it (1) has good reason to and does believe that it will have future needs for the use of the additional storage; (2) will request the use of such storage by a time and for a duration that will permit it to pay the costs allocated to such purposes within the life of the project; (3) will be able to repay to the state the costs of the requested storage features; and (4) will insure compliance with such maintenance and operational requirements in the use of the expected future water supply requested as the office shall direct for the achievement of the purposes of this act.