[4] The river's name stems from its creation in 1890, when sand blocked the outlet from Floras Lake during a heavy storm, and the resulting flood created a new channel behind the foredune.

[1] Evidence suggests that as early as 8,000 years ago, long before the New River existed, ancestors of the Siletz and Coquille peoples lived here in large villages near an estuary.

[6] The BLM encourages public uses of the 1,200-acre (490 ha) site at the same time it works to protect habitat for native plants, birds, animals, and fish.

[5] The dunes kept the river in its new channel but displaced native vegetation such as sand verbena and otherwise altered the habitats used by birds and other life forms.

[8] The New River ACEC comprises four units—Storm Ranch, Floras Lake, Fourmile Creek, and Lost Lake—connected by hiking trails to parking, restrooms, a Nature Center, and other structures.