They cared for the valley because the river supported their livelihoods and offered them a sense of place.
The river, in its upper reaches, supports a wild brown trout population.
The river and its dams support an elaborate irrigation system started by the federal government more than a century ago.
Together, these rivers support the irrigation for Thailand's agricultural economy.
From medieval times, the river supported a very large number of water mills for grinding corn.
The many unpolluted lakes and rivers in the area support a huge population of wild fish.
The river also supports a number of fish species.
The river itself supports a wide variety of fish, wildlife, and plants, many within easy viewing by visitors.
The river supports some wildlife in its upper reaches and pollution is relatively low.
However, due to environmental regulation the water quality is now improving and the river supports fish, including trout.