is based on the percentage of change in metric values at study- 

 sites from values measured at the upstream control site. 

 Criteria for evaluating biological integrity using Protocol II 

 are given in Table 12 in Bahls (1993) . 



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 uniqxie number compatible with the Montana Diatom 

 Database, e.g., 1989-01. The first part of this number (1989) 

 designates the sampling site (Cottonwood Creek Station 2); the 

 second part of this number (01) 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. 



On completion of the project, station information, sample 

 inf orroation, and diatom proportional count data will be entered 

 into the Montana Diatom Database. 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



Results are presented in Tables 4, 5 and 6, which are 

 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 



Cottonwood Creek Station 1. No algae were observed in the 



