Which term is used to describe a river that is not always flowing year-round?

• A. Perennial River
• B. Perennial Stream
• C. Intermittent Stream
• D. Intermittent River

Answer: (D)

Flow continuity in rivers and streams is described with terms like perennial, intermittent, and ephemeral. A perennial body carries water all year, never drying up for long periods. An intermittent body does not flow year-round; its discharge happens only during certain seasons or after rainfall, with periods of dryness in between. The phrase that fits a river not always flowing year-round is intermittent river, because it specifies a river with seasonal or episodic flow, in contrast to a perennial river which has continuous flow. The other labels describe constant flow (perennial) or refer to a smaller watercourse (intermittent stream) rather than a river, though the underlying idea of not having year-round flow is the same.