Although the river is shallow during dry months, there is sufficient water for canoeing and periods of heavy rainfall create excellent recreation opportunities. 1982 S, R, F, W, H, C The most outstanding feature along these segments is the quality and quantity of archeological and historical sites. Prehistoric sites include Paleo-Indian sites, some 12,000 years old. It is likely that human remains associated with extinct mammoth, camel and horse are present. Hearths and shell deposits can be found to depths of 15'.
Some sites contain central Texas and Mexican pottery.
Historically, the Spanish visited the area of the confluence in 1684, and in the 1850's, the first Anglos settled. John Chisholm had a ranch here before moving to New Mexico. One of the first attempts to use barbed wire on a large scale was in this area. A number of the houses from this era are still standing, and in use. The river segments provide high quality recreational experiences, such as floating, camping, hiking and fishing.