The river forms the border between the municipalities of San Juan and Yapacaní, in Ichilo Province of the Santa Cruz Department.

[2] Today, the town of La Chancadora, which is located upstream, is threatened by the continuous flooding of the river, since it can be up to 2,600 ft (800m) wide in places.

The river Yapacaní has economic significance because of the potential marketable fishing of some species that occur in its waters.

[clarification needed] The banks of the river have been cleared for agriculture, which has been denounced by some environmental advocacy organizations.

Previous efforts to construct a bridge over the river were failures, and the only way to cross it continued to be by boat.