(1) In each county, the superior court may appoint one or more attorneys to act as water commissioners to assist the superior court in disposing of its business.

(2) The appointments provided for in this section shall be made by a majority vote of the judges of the superior court of the county and may be in addition to all other appointments of commissioners and other judicial attaches otherwise authorized by law. Water commissioners shall serve at the pleasure of the judges appointing them.

(3) In appointing a water commissioner, the court shall consider a potential commissioner's experience with water law and water use.

(4) The appointments may be full-time or part-time positions. A person appointed as a water commissioner may also be appointed to any other commissioner position authorized by law.

(5)(a) A person appointed as a water commissioner must receive training as soon as reasonably practicable from the administrative office of the courts on the following topics:

(i) Water law, including state, federal, tribal, and international statutory and case law;

(ii) Indian law, including statutory and case law, agreements, executive orders, and treaties;

(iii) An overview of subjects in water science, such as physical and groundwater hydrology, hydrogeology, and irrigation management; and

(iv) Cultural awareness, including state and tribal history related to treaty and nontreaty tribes and governmental relationships with federally recognized tribes.

(b) The administrative office of the courts may contract with one or more academic institutions in Washington, as appropriate, to develop and deliver the training described in (a) of this subsection.