The East Mancos River is a diverse, high quality riparian cottonwood/shrub community mixed with very old conifers as large as any in Colorado. Side-canyon seeps support diverse communities of bryophytes, ferns, columbines, and graminoids. Beaver activity is common along the river. Very few exotics exist, a rare condition for riparian cottonwood communities in the San Juans. The riparian ecosystem is so healthy and diverse that the East Mancos River Research Natural Area is proposed along a significant stretch of the river.

A very beautiful strain of rainbow trout lives in the East Mancos and there is a viable fishery.  The East Fork of the Mancos has outstanding opportunities for fishing and other forms of recreation such as hiking in the scenic, undeveloped steep canyon.