The authority, control, and supervision of all water and wildlife conservation projects and wildlife reservations is vested in the department of water resources. The department may accept cooperation, aid, and assistance from the United States of America, its instrumentalities or agencies, in the construction, maintenance, and operation of any structure for the purposes set forth in this chapter, and may do any act necessary to make aid, assistance, and cooperation from the federal government available. The department may grant easements to the United States of America, its instrumentalities or agencies, as may be required.