Water disputes have become so pervasive in Utah that the state Judicial Council established a new program last year that designates and trains judges to handle these cases. “It was inspired by panic,” says Senior Judge Kate Appleby. … In Colorado a water court has been in place for decades; the judges there work on water cases full time. Utah’s law mandates that at least three district court judges specialize in water disputes in addition to handling other cases. Because of overwhelming interest, the state has 10 water judges. Nevada is following suit.