It is hereby declared to be a policy of the state of Kansas that all agencies of the state having responsibilities affecting the water resources of the state shall, insofar as circumstances permit, carry on basic data collection, research, and analyses concerning climate, streamflow, water quality, groundwater levels, character and geographical extent of groundwater reservoirs and their relation to both surface and underground waters, interrelation of surface and groundwaters, methods and techniques for recharging groundwater reservoirs, probable yields from surface and groundwater reservoirs, seepage and evapotranspiration losses, and such other matters that relate to the water resources of the state, and those agencies shall direct their attention to the problems of water distribution, quality, pollution, supply variability, floods, and supply in relation to demand.