The study will survey and identify the extent and characteristics, including permanency, of headwater streams in central Massachusetts forests. Stream characteristics will be related to site topography, geology, and vegetation. The goal is to assess the accuracy of using the terminus of ‘blue line’ streams on 7.5’ U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps as the basis for defining and delineating streams for regulatory purposes (e.g., “Perennial streams are those which are depicted on a USGS map with a solid blue line. Intermittent streams are those which are depicted on a USGS map with a dotted line”; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Model Ordnance for Stream Buffers