The mean monthly flow rate is estimated to be 89.64 cumecs during the 1992-93 period under the Daily rainfall-runoff modelling of Rushikulya river, Orissa.

In 1993, biologists from the Odisha Forest Department and the Wildlife Institute of India learned that large-scale nesting of olive ridley sea turtles took place near the mouth of the Rushikulya River.

This area is the location of one of the largest mass nesting (arribada) sites of olive ridley sea turtles in India.

Brahmapur is situated in the basin; other important towns are Chhatrapur, Ganjam, Aska, Bhanjanagar, Bellaguntha, and Surada.

There are about 3360 small-scale industries of different categories, mainly food and allied, forest & wood-based, rubber and plastic products, and glass and ceramics.