The lower portion of the river is badly affected by human activity and stormwater runoff but the upper reaches have a good range of biodiversity.

[1] As the river flows down from the Adelaide Hills over the Para fault escarpment, it has formed a large alluvial fan on which Salisbury is built.

[3]: 241  In the 19th century lack of consistent flow in the river and the absence of an organised water supply system led to the digging of wells.

In 1838 John Barton Hack shared with Colonel George Gawler and a Mr Williams in a 4,000-acre (1,600 ha) "Special Survey" nearby at £1 per acre.

In the 1960s the City of Salisbury began acquiring land for public space, and a belt of parklands with biking and walking trails now borders the river.