In 1908, Champion International built a paper mill on the little pigeon river and decimated many of the native fish. In the 1980s the mill cleaned up its refuse and the river is steadily getting better.
Champion International's actions in 1908 had a profound effect on the ecosystem of the little pigeon river, leading to the decline of many native fish species. However, by the 1980s, the company took steps to rectify its environmental mistakes, and the river has since been improving.