The Oklawaha River also serves as a major tributary. In addition to the heavily urbanized regions, more and more of the basin's rural areas are being converted into suburban communities. The estuary contains both freshwater wetlands and salt marshes. The freshwater wetlands are mostly bottomland hardwood forests and shallow marshes. These marshes are frequently visited by manatees.
Blue crab are plentiful and juvenile white, brown, and pink shrimp are found here.
About 170 species of fish are in the estuary. These support a valuable recreational fishery. The dominant marine species are snappers, spotted sea trout, red drum and sheepshead. Protected and endangered species living in the estuary include manatee, bald eagles, wood storks, alligators and alligator snapping turtles. Except for one location that is classified as suitable for shellfish aquaculture, all of the waters within the basin are classified as suitable for recreation and are capable of supporting fish populations.