Perennial stream facts for kids
A perennial stream or perennial river is a stream or river that flows all year round. This means you can usually find water moving in it, even when there hasn't been much rain. Perennial streams are different from other types of streams that might dry up for parts of the year.
For example, an intermittent stream stops flowing for weeks or months each year. An ephemeral stream only flows for a few hours or days right after it rains. Sometimes, during very dry years or a drought, a perennial stream might stop flowing for a while. But usually, it keeps going!
What Makes a Stream Perennial?
Even if you can't see water flowing on the surface, a stream can still be perennial. This happens often in streams with gravel, sandy, or rocky bottoms. The water might be flowing hidden beneath or between the rocks.
Scientists who study water and living things, called biologists, have a special way to tell if a stream is flowing. They look for enough water to support aquatic life. This includes fish, amphibians that breathe with gills, and tiny creatures like insects, crustaceans, and mollusks. These animals can live in a shallow flow of water even if it's hidden under rocks or logs. The flow might be so small that special tools can't even measure it!
Images for kids
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Whites Creek is a small perennial stream in the Ozarks of southern Missouri.
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The Gangi River of Arrah, India.
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Kings River Falls at low flow in Madison County of northern Arkansas.
