Rush Creek is the largest stream in the Mono Basin, carrying 41% of the total runoff.

It was extensively diverted by the Los Angeles Aqueduct system in the twentieth century until California Trout, Inc., the National Audubon Society, and the Mono Lake Committee sued Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) for continuous low flows in Rush Creek to maintain trout populations in good condition, which was ordered by the court in 1985.

[5] Before 1941, dense riparian vegetation in the Rush Creek Bottomlands supported abundant waterfowl and other wildlife such as mallard, teal, geese, deer, bears, mountain lions, bobcats, and coyotes, while at the mouth of Rush Creek there were large riparian trees, especially aspen and cottonwood.

The Bottomlands historically contained a broad riparian forest, a sinuous main channel and in some places multiple channels, excellent quality spawning gravel, exposed willow roots, some fallen trees, and shoreline debris jams, which provided wildlife habitat and fish habitat.

Instream fish habitat is considerably poorer, due to a lack of pools, spawning gravels, and woody debris.

[4] There are no fish native to the Mono Basin, but shortly after 1850 Lahontan Cutthroat Trout were introduced to the streams, and an abundant fishery flourished by 1900.

During the Great Depression trout from Rush Creek regularly supplemented the diets of local residents.