It is a fast-flowing spate river, notable for the physical diversity and naturalness of the bank and channel, and the richness and naturalness of its plant and animal communities which includes Atlantic Stream Crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes, beds of Stream Water Crowfoot Ranunculus penicillatus var. penicillatus and one of the largest Northern Ireland population of the now rare Fresh Water Pearl Mussel Margaritifera margaritifera. The adjacent semi-natural vegetation is typically Blanket Bog in the upper catchment and woodlands in the lower. However the woodland is very fragmented and variable but includes Oak, Alluvial and Ash woodland types which contain notable species as Rough Horsetail Equisetum hyemale and Wood Fescue Festuca altissima, in addition to a rich fungi community.
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