[7] In the tidal lower 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) reach, the Slough, the creek is surrounded mainly by ranchland and residential properties.

[4] The creek gradient is low (34 feet per mile (6.4 m/km)), with levees along most of the channel; the riparian forest thin; and the water brackish.

[4][7] In the upper non-tidal reaches the riparian forest thickens with vegetation, conifers, and hardwood trees.

[7] Most of the main river course is sparsely populated, with most of the watershed of the upper reaches being timberland that is owned and managed by the Pacific Lumber Company.

[8] The general course of the creek is west-south-west for 5 miles (8.0 km) and then north-west for the rest of its roughly 23 kilometres (14 mi) total length.