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 the samples were 

 assigned a unique number compatible with the Montana Diatom 

 Database, e.g., 1486-02. The first part of this number (1486) 

 designates the sampling site (Stillwater River below Daisy 

 Creek) ,- the second part of this number (02) designates the number 

 of periphyton samples that have been collected at this site to 

 date for which 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. After completing the 

 diatom proportional count, the slide used for the count will be 

 deposited in the University of Montana Herbarium in Missoula. 

 The other slide will be retained by Hannaea in Helena. 



Station information, sample information, and diatom 

 proportional count data have been entered into the Montana Diatom 

 Database, maintained by Hannaea in Microsoft Access. 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



Results are presented in Tables 3 and 4, which are located 

 near the end of this report following the References section. 

 Spreadsheets containing completed diatom proportional counts, 

 with species' pollution tolerance classes (PTC) and percent 

 abundances, are attached as Appendix A. 



SAMPLE NOTES 



