In this article, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Consumptive use" means, for any water user for any program year, the consumptive use as recorded in the final accounting for the most recent calendar year for which a final accounting is available, or if none is recorded, the amount of diversions so recorded.

2. "Final accounting" means, for any calendar year, the United States bureau of reclamation’s final compilation of records of Colorado river diversions, return flows and consumptive uses for the year, compiled pursuant to article V(b) of the decree of the United States supreme court in Arizona v. California, 376 U.S. 340 (1964).

3. "Lower Colorado river multispecies conservation program" or "program" means the cooperative effort among agencies of the federal government and agencies and political subdivisions of the states of Arizona, California and Nevada and other local public and private parties with a common interest in the water and related resources of the lower Colorado river, including the historic floodplain and reservoirs to the full pool elevations, to provide the basis for compliance with sections 7 and 10(a)(1)(B) of the endangered species act of 1973 (P.L. 93-205; 87 Stat. 884; 16 United States Code §§ 1536 and 1539).

4. "Program year" means the twelve month period beginning October 1 of any calendar year and ending September 30 of the following calendar year.