Editing Cagayan River (section)

==Economic importance==
The river drains a fertile valley that produces a variety of crops, including rice, corn, bananas, coconut, mangoes, citrus and tobacco.

Fish were a plentiful source of nutrition for centuries, but in recent decades issues such as [[fertilizer runoff]], [[dynamite fishing|destructive fishing methods]] and a [[overpopulation|burgeoning human population]] have led to a great decline in the river's fish stocks.  With [[climate change|worsening weather patterns]] and regular severe storms, even traditional agricultural means are insufficient to feed families although they were bountiful in the past century, leading to the more aggressive use of destructive techniques.  This has been part of a vicious cycle of [[environmental degradation]].

Families still go to the banks of the river and its tributaries to wash clothes or have picnics.

Until recently, boatmen would provide ferry service.  For example, the towns of [[Lasam]] and [[Gattaran]] are directly across the river from each other.  A crossing by boat was the most convenient, but emergencies could be dangerous, such as having to fetch the doctor in Gattaran during a storm at night.  Now the best way is by vehicle over the [[Magapit Suspension Bridge|Magapit bridge]].

There are [[dam]]s in two of the river's tributaries, the Magat and [[Chico River (Philippines)|Chico River]]s, and there are also several mining concessions in the mineral-rich [[Cordillera Central (Luzon)|Cordillera Mountains]] near the headwaters of the two tributary rivers.

The provincial governments along the river have also developed tourism programs that offer activities on the river, particularly [[whitewater rafting]].