As soon as the formation of the district becomes effective, the department shall have full power to enter into agreements with the proper officials of the federal government or of other agencies of the state, to acquire or appropriate lands and rights in lands, including sites for camps and appurtenant facilities, access roads, borrow pits, quarries, spoil banks and all other necessary and proper matters, to incur contractual obligations, to purchase supplies and materials, to employ the necessary personnel and generally to do whatever is necessary to carry out the proposed project or projects.