All sums payable to the State of North Carolina by the Treasurer of the United States of America under the provisions of section 17 and other sections of the Federal Water Power Act shall be paid to the account of the Department as the authorized agent of the State for receipt of said payments. Such sums shall be used by the Department in prosecuting investigations for the utilization and development of the water resources of the State.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 113-18