The waters of the Mooi River and its reservoirs are polluted with heavy metals[3] in its mid and lower course because of the large gold and uranium mining operations in the basin.

[4] In November 1838 Voortrekker leader Andries Hendrik Potgieter and his followers established the first permanent European settlement north of the Vaal by the banks of the Mooi River, founding the town of Potchefstroom.

The dry springs were a result of dewatering the aquifers that fed the eyes to make way for gold mining in the Far West Rand.

Fish species found in the river include Small mouth Yellowfish (Labeobarbus aeneus), Orange River Mudfish (Labeo capensis), Moggel (Labeo umbratus), Sharptooth Catfish (Clarias gariepinus), Banded Tilapia (Tilapia sparrmanii), Southern Mouthbrooder (Pseudocrenilabrus philander), Three spot Barb (Enteromius trimaculatus), Chubbyhead Barb (Enteromius anoplus), Straight-fin Barb ( Enteromius paludinosus), Western Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio), Smallmouth Bass (Micropterus dolomieu), Swordtail (Xiphophorus hellerii), Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides), Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella), Rock Catfish (Austroglanis sclateri), Canary Kurper Chetia flaviventris).

[6] The river and its surroundings harbour a rich bird population of over 250 recorded species including African Fish Eagle, Martial Eagle, Ostrich, Secretarybird, Greater and Lesser Flamingo, Grey Hornbill, Meyers Parrot, Kori Bustard, Giant Eagle Owl to name a few.