The early French settlers named it the Rivière aux Écorces ("bark river").

A storm on May 21, 2004, that produced 4 inches (100 mm) of rain resulted in the river rising over 6 feet (1.8 m) in only three hours.

Contamination is a problem, both from ongoing industrial and residential sources and as a legacy of the steel works along its lower length.

It was reported in September 2008 that the Wayne County Department of Environment will begin the first phase of a $239 million project to protect the nine municipalities along the north branch of the creek from flash flooding.

[4] The first phase, to begin in early 2009, is to cost $7 to $10 million and will be funded by special assessments on the 48,000 properties in the watershed.

As of April 14, 2009, a high amount of E. coli bacteria from human waste was found to be in the creek water.