This was the result of the timber industry floating logs downriver to ports for processing and shipping.

As its main purpose is as a high water overflow, it has been artificially channelized and diked to prevent flooding of surrounding agricultural fields.

It was formerly of considerable size, and might have been comparable to the modern Nooksack River Delta in Bellingham Bay.

The channelization and diking of the river resulted in the production of significant new areas of rich farmland, but it has cost the elimination of an equal or greater acreage of coastal wetlands and damage to important salmon habitats.

Because of the importance of salmon to indigenous tribes, commercial and sports fishermen, state and local governments are evaluating proposals to investigate restoration of these habitats.