The center is authorized to make application for and receive from the federal government such funds and grants as shall be made available under the Water Research and Development Act of 1978, 42 U.S.C. Section 7801, et seq., and to utilize and disburse such funds for such purposes and projects as will carry out the purposes of the center. The center is also authorized to utilize such moneys as may be made available to it for this purpose as matching funds to federal moneys for necessary expenses of specific water resources research projects which could not be otherwise undertaken under normal grants from the federal government.