Powers and duties of the department.

(1) The provisions of this part shall be administered by the department.

(2) In addition to such powers as may be specifically delegated to it under the provisions of this part, the department is authorized to perform the following functions:

(a) To coordinate the efforts of all public and private agencies and organizations engaged in the making of tidal surveys and maps of the coastal areas of this state, with the object of avoiding unnecessary duplication and overlapping;

(b) To serve as a coordinating state agency for any program of tidal surveying and mapping conducted by the Federal Government;

(c) To assist any court, tribunal, administrative agency, or political subdivision, and to make available to them information, regarding tidal surveying and coastal boundary determinations;

(d) To contract with federal, state, or local agencies or with private parties for the performance of any surveys, studies, investigations, or mapping activities, for preparation and publication of the results thereof, or for other authorized functions relating to the objectives of this part;

(e) To develop permanent records of tidal surveys and maps of the state’s coastal areas;

(f) To develop uniform specifications and regulations for tidal surveying and mapping coastal areas of the state;

(g) To collect and preserve appropriate survey data from coastal areas; and

(h) To act as a public repository for copies of coastal area maps and to establish a library of such maps and charts.