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Streams
and Watersheds - Stream Classification
Method
2 = time of year
Another way
to classify streams is by the length of time water flows in the
channel throughout the year.
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Perennial
streams
are those in which water flows in the channel year-round during
normal years. The sources for this water are generally springs
and groundwater.
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Intermittent
streams
generally flow for a period of more than one month, but less
than year-round. Water may come from springs or surface sources,
such as melting snow.
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Ephemeral
streams
flow only in response to precipitation. They normally do not
flow for 30 consecutive days. However, the rapid movement of
large quantities of water through them in a short period of
time makes them susceptible to disturbance.
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