m 



Quality Assurance 



Several steps were taken to assure that the study resuUs are accurate and reproducible. 

 Upon receipt of the samples, station and sample attribute data were recorded in the Montana 

 Diatom Database and the samples were assigned a unique number, e.g., 3004-01 . The first part 

 of this number (3004) designates the sampling site (Lake Creek above Hevron Road) and the 



second part (01) designates the number of periphyton samples that that have been collected at 

 this site 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 information on the sample label. A portion of the raw sample was used to 

 make duplicate diatom slides. The slide used for the diatom proportional count will be 

 deposited in the Montana Diatom Collection at the University of Montana Herbarium in 

 Missoula. The duplicate slide will be retained in the offices of Hannaea in Helena. Diatom 

 proportional counts have been entered into the Montana Diatom Database. 



Results and Discussion 



Results are presented in Tables 3, 4, and 5, which are located near the end of this report 

 following the references section. Appendix A consists of two diatom reports, one for each 

 sample. Each diatom report contains an alphabetical list of diatom species and their percent 

 abundances, and values for 65 different diatom metrics and ecological attributes. 



Sample Notes 



Lake Creek above county road. The Rhizocloniuin in this sample consisted of short (1- 

 3 cell) filaments only. The sample contained moderately heavy amounts of medium-coarse (5-15 

 micron diameter) inorganic sediment. 



Lake Creek above Hevron Road. The sample from this site contained an abundance of 

 fine particulate organic matter but little inorganic sediment. 



