The department of ecology shall have the power to cooperate and to contract with the United States for the reclamation of lands in this state by the United States, and shall have the power to contract with the United States for the handling of such reclamation work by the United States and for the repayment of such moneys as the department of ecology shall invest from the reclamation account, under such terms and conditions as the United States laws and the regulations of the interior department shall provide for the repayment of reclamation costs by the lands reclaimed.