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streams were sampled for the purpose of biocriteria development. 

 Protocol II can be used at any time of the year. 



Quality Assurance. Several steps were taken to assure that 

 the study results are accurate and reproducible. First, a 

 duplicate sample was collected at one of the sites (#1) and 

 analyzed independently. A comparison of the metrics generated 

 from these duplicate samples is a test of the reproducibility of 

 the field sampling procedure. 



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., 0418-32. The first part of this number (0418) designates 

 the sampling site (Squirrel Creek near mouth) ; the second part of 

 the number (32) 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. 



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 Figure 1 and Tables 4, 5 and 6, 

 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 percent abundances, are attached as Appendix A. 



SAMPLE NOTES 



Squirrel Creek, upper (#4) . The Vaucheria in this sample 

 was senescent. 



