[3][4] The river is historically famous for its abundant fish, especially the Caspian trout, Salmo trutta caspius.

[6] In the wide valley before the Sefid-Rud enters the Caspian Sea, a number of transportation and irrigation canals have been cut; the two biggest are the Khomam and the Now.

[8] The reservoir mediates some flooding and significantly increased rice production in the Sefid Rud delta.

[8] The completion of the dam had a negative impact on the river's fisheries, through reduced stream flow (due to diversion), increased water temperature, and decreased food availability, especially for sturgeon but also for the Caspian trout.

[2] In the Hellenistic period, the north side of the Sefid (then Mardus) was occupied by the Cadusii mountain tribe .