The Water Year (or Hydrologic Year) is most often defined as the period from 01 October to 30 September of the following year.
It is called by the calendar year in which it ends. Thus, Water Year 2009 is the 12-month period beginning 01 October 2008
and ending 30 September 2009. The period is chosen so as to encompass a full cycle of accumulation (mostly in the form of
snowpack in the West) and use (irrigation, etc).