Quality Assurance. Several steps were taken to assure that 

 the study results are accurate and reproducible. Upon receipt of 

 the samples, station and sample information were recorded in a 

 laboratory notebook and samples were assigned a unique number 

 compatible with the Montana Diatom Database, e.g., 0379-04. The 

 first part of this number (0379) designates the sampling site 

 (Careless Creek near mouth) ,■ the second part of the number (04) 

 designates the number of periphyton samples that have been 

 collected at this site to date for v;hich data have been entered 

 into the Montana Diatom Database. 



Sample observations and analyses of soft (non-diatom) algae 

 were recorded in a lab notebook along with station and sample 

 information provided by MDEQ . A portion of the raw sample was 

 used to make duplicate diatom slides. 



On completion of the project, station information, sample 

 information, and diatom proportional count data will be entered 

 into the Montana Diatom Database. One set of diatom slides will 

 be deposited in the University of Montana Herbarium in Missoula. 

 The other set of slides will be retained by Hannaea in Helena. 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



Results are presented in Tables 4 and 5 located near the end 

 of this report following the Literature Cited section. 

 Spreadsheets containing completed diatom proportional counts, 

 with species pollution tolerance classes (PTC) and calculated 

 percent abundances, are attached as Appendix A. 



SAMPLE NOTES 



Careless Creek. This sample was very silty. The sample 

 also contained macrophytes . Trichomes of Phorrnidium in this 

 sample were very narrow. 



Lodgepole Creek. This sample was silty and contained 

 sections of macrophyte stems and leaves. This sample also 

 contained a species of Phormidium with very narrow trichomes. 



South Fork Lodgepole Creek. The Chaetophora in this sample 

 had long setae and compact colonies, which distinguished it from 

 Stigeoclonium. This sample contained a species of Oscillatoria 

 with narrow trichomes. 



