(1) The chief justice of the Montana supreme court shall appoint a chief water judge as provided in Title 3, chapter 1, part 9. The chief justice of the Montana supreme court may appoint an associate water judge.
(2) To be eligible for the office of chief water judge or associate water judge, a person shall have the qualifications for district court or supreme court judges found in Article VII, section 9, of the Montana constitution.
(3) The term of office of the chief water judge and the associate water judge is 4 years, subject to continuation of the water divisions by the legislature.