The river now has little power to clean out existing side channels or create new ones. Diking has narrowed the river. Almost everywhere, the large logs are gone. Nevertheless, the confluence area has high numbers of native fish compared to other reaches. The potential for the confluence area to support even more fish is high.
Exotic fish are rare in the study area except within gravel pits.
Birds are most numerous and diverse within riparian woodlands, alcoves and ponds, mined gravel pits, and areas dominated by shrubs and weeds. Pond turtles are relatively numerous and found in both gravel pits and natural ponds, especially where partially submerged logs are present. Also, conservation easements are being explored. In the long-term, we are examining opportunities to widen the active width of the river by proper siting of new gravel operations and integrating shallow gravel pits with the river once the mining ends.