The woody canopy is a mix of eastern cottonwood or black willow. A small coastal hammock and black willow swamp can also be found. Other names occasionally used include fire willow, Nuttall willow, mountain willow, and black willow. Goodding's willow, or Goodding's black willow. The black willow lumber is used in furniture and shipping containers. Translated from the Kazakh language, the river is translated as "Black willow".