The department may apply to any appropriate agency or officer of the United States for participation in or the receipt of aid from any federal program respecting outdoor recreation. The department may enter into contracts and agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency of the United States, keep financial and other records relating to those contracts and agreements, and furnish to appropriate officials and agencies of the United States reports and information as may be reasonably necessary to enable the officials and agencies to perform their duties under the programs. In connection with obtaining the benefits of any such program, the department shall coordinate its activities with and represent the interests of all agencies and subdivisions of the state having interests in the planning, development, and maintenance of outdoor recreation resources and facilities.

Grants-in-aid received from the land and water conservation fund act of 1965, Public Law 88-578, 78 Stat. 897, shall be deposited in the state treasury and disbursed to agencies and subdivisions of the state upon authorization of the department. In the apportionment of funds to subdivisions of the state, the department shall give special consideration to those subdivisions where population density and land and facility needs are greatest.

The department shall not make a commitment or enter into an agreement pursuant to an exercise of authority under this part until the legislature has appropriated sufficient funds to it for meeting the state's share, if any, of project costs. It is the legislative intent that, to the extent necessary to assure the proper operation and maintenance of areas and facilities acquired or developed pursuant to any program participated in by this state under this part, those areas and facilities shall be publicly maintained for outdoor recreation purposes. The department may enter into and administer agreements with the United States or any appropriate agency of the United States for planning, acquisition, and development projects involving participating federal-aid funds on behalf of any subdivision of this state, if the subdivision gives necessary assurances to the department that it has available sufficient funds to meet its share, if any, of the cost of the project and that the acquired or developed areas will be operated and maintained at the subdivision's expense for public outdoor recreation use.

The department is authorized to disburse state appropriated grants-in-aid to political subdivisions of the state to be used in conjunction with the land and water conservation fund act of 1965, Public Law 88-578, 78 Stat. 897, which provides financial assistance for outdoor recreation. The criteria for project approval established for federal cost-sharing under the various federal grants-in-aid programs shall be used as guidelines in allocating state grants-in-aid to political subdivisions of the state. The state's share of the cost of a particular project shall not exceed 25% of the total cost. Total state grants-in-aid under this part during any fiscal year shall not exceed the amount specifically appropriated for that purpose by the legislature.