Any political subdivision, including a county, township, city, park district, and water resource district, and federally recognized Indian tribes, may separately or jointly, with each other, the state of North Dakota through the commission, or federal departments or agencies, investigate, plan, and do all things necessary for participating in or undertaking underground or surface water surveys, development, construction, reconstruction, and maintenance of works, dams, and projects for the beneficial utilization and control of water resources, and may enter into contracts with the commission to pay rents, charges, or other payments for the use of works of the commission.