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reasonable specific releases required to study the protection and improvement of habitat for endangered fish can be accommodated. The forecasted runoff for the spring of 1999 will be closely monitored to achieve these objectives.. To protect both the blue ribbon trout fishery in the Black Canyon and recreation potential, releases during 1999 will be planned to minimize large fluctuations in the daily and monthly flows in the Gunnison River below the Uncompahgre Tunnel Diversion. d. Navajo Reservoir The April through July unregulated inflow into Navajo Reservoir in water year 1998 was 888 MCM (0.720 MAFI, or 93 percent of average. Water year 1998 regulated inflow was 1,182 MCM (0.958 MAF-, or 95 percent of average. Navajo Reservoir did not fill in 1998. Section 7 consultation with the Fish and Wildlife Service on the operation of Navajo Dam continued in 1998. Water year 1997 was the seventh year of a seven-year study to evaluate alternative operations of Navajo Reservoir to benefit endangered fish, and a biological opinion on the operation of Navajo Dam is expected in 1999. During the spring, large releases of up to 142 cros (5,000 cfs) were made during May and June to coincide with the peak flows of the Animas River. This resulted in peak flows of 306 cros (10,800 cfs) at Bluff, Utah. After the completion of the large spring releases, releases were gradually reduced to approximately 17 cros (600 cfs) for the remainder of the year. In water year 1999, Navajo Reservoir is expected to nearly fill under the most probable and probable maximum inflow scenarios. The reservoir should fill above 80 percent of full under the probable minimum scenario. Releases from the reservoir will be held near 17 cros (600 cfs) through the fall and winter months, and large releases will likely be made in May and June in order to improve the habitat and provide better spawning conditions for endangered fish in the San Juan River. e. Lake Powell The April through July unregulated inflow into Lake Powell in water year 1998 was 9,498 MCM (7.700 MAF) or 100 percent of average. Water year 1998 unregulated inflow was 15,509 MCM (12.573 MAF-, or 107 percent of average. Lake Powell ended the water year 14 feet from full. During water year 1999, releases greater than the minimum release objective of 10,152 MCM (8.230 MAF) likely will be made to avoid anticipated spills and/or to equalize the storage between Lakes Powell and Mead. Under the most probable inflow conditions, releases of 13,198 MCM (10.700 MAF) would be made, while under the probable maximum inflow scenario, approximately 20,846 MCM (16.900 MAF) will be released. This maximum probable inflow would require releases of about 708 cros {25,000 cfs) for a lengthy period of time. With current full reservoir system conditions, releases above powerplant capacity are possible in 1999. Such releases would be made consistent with the 1956 Colorado River Storage Project Act, the 1968 Colorado River Basin Project Act, the 1992 Grand Canyon Protection Act, and the Secretary of the Interior's agreement for managing spills from Glen Canyon Dam contained in the 1996 Annual Operation Plan. This agreement provides for the use of reservoir releases in excess of powerplant capacity required for dam safety purposes during high reservoir conditions to accomplish the objectives of the beach/habitat-building flow described in the ROD 61