The river contained 1,000 times the safe level of dioxins in 1991, according to a statement made by Dennis Skinner, (MP) in the House of Commons in 1992.

The river flows in a generally south to north direction through a region where the underlying geology is predominantly Carboniferous coal measures.

Just before it reaches Hardwick Park, it is joined by another stream which rises at Hardstoft and flows eastwards under the motorway.

The river passes under Doe Lea bridge, which carries another minor road,[6] beyond which a small section of the stream has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

[6] The southern part of this area is known as the Carr Vale Flash, and is a nature reserve managed by the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust.

[6] Further downstream, the river passed under the Chesterfield Canal]] through an oval culvert, constructed of brick and stone.

Brown trout were present around Stainsby, and there were small numbers of coarse fish, which had originated in the lakes at Hardwick Hall.

While this reduced smoke from domestic fires, the liquors which were removed from the coal were highly toxic and rich in ammonia.

[15] Two years later, Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Pollution took control of the works, and in 1996 new storage lagoons were built, to contain surface drainage water in times of flood.

The lower Doe Lea is quite variable, in that it was rated poor on biological grounds, but high in relation to specific pollutants, both of which are sub-categories of the ecological status.

Like most rivers in the UK, the chemical status changed from good to fail in 2019, due to the presence of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE), perfluorooctane sulphonate (PFOS), mercury compounds, and cypermethrin, none of which had previously been included in the assessment.