I've always called it the Ouse River (pronounced "ooze"), but others refer to it as the Ouse River (rhymes with "moose"). You decide which you like best.
It's only 1.5 kilometre from the bridge on River Road to Rice Lake. I can't refuse a paddle on this stretch once every autumn to see the fall colours. However, the put-in is not an official boat launch, there really isn't any parking, so you have to just pull over on the one-lane dirt road as far as you can, and be wary of October duck hunters on the river closer to Rice Lake. If you can handle all this, the paddle is really wonderful and the river is teeming with wildlife.
Regarding Parking on River Road : The parking co-ords I give you are for where you can put your canoe or kayak into the water. As for leaving your vehicle, there are better pull-over spots on the east side of the bridge.