Fremont Warns Against Swimming Niles Creek

Fremont police told residents and visitors this weekend to stay out of Niles Creek as Memorial Day crowds head to parks and waterways across the East Bay. The warning covered both swimming and gathering in the creek area, which authorities said is off limits. Police said the restriction is tied to safety risks and trespassing enforcement. The notice comes ahead of Memorial Day on Monday, May 25, when Fremont expects holiday traffic and outdoor recreation. ### What exactly did Fremont police tell people not to do? The Fremont Police Department said people should not swim or gather in Niles Creek over the Memorial Day weekend. A city GovDelivery bulletin dated May 22 said “the Niles Creek and surrounding lands are off limits” and warned that entering the area can be punishable by arrest under California Penal Code 602(o)(1). The warning described the creek area as a restricted zone rather than a supervised recreation site. Search results carrying the police notice said officers were urging the public to avoid the water because of “ongoing dangers” in the area. ### Why is Niles Creek being treated as off limits? The May 22 city bulletin said Fremont police are working with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Alameda County and Caltrans to enforce trespassing laws in and around Niles Creek. (content.govdelivery.com) That language indicates the city is treating the site as a controlled area rather than a public swim spot. (youtube.com) California Penal Code 602(o)(1), cited in the bulletin, covers trespass on lands marked as closed to entry. Police said people who enter the restricted zone may face citation or arrest. ### Are there recent examples of why authorities are warning people? Memorial Day weekend has previously brought emergency calls to waterways near Fremont. (content.govdelivery.com) The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office said a girl died after being submerged in Alameda Creek near Fremont on May 27, 2024, after police responded to a drowning report just before 6 p.m. near Niles Canyon Road. In a separate earlier case, KTVU reported that a 26-year-old man drowned in a creek in Fremont’s Niles District after witnesses saw him struggle in the water. Deputies, Fremont police, fire agencies and East Bay Regional Park District personnel responded to that search. ### If people should not swim there, where is swimming allowed nearby? (pleasantonweekly.com) Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area in Fremont offers a designated swim area at Horseshoe Lake, according to the East Bay Regional Park District. The district says swimming there is restricted to within the swim ropes only, and beach access carries an admission fee. The East Bay Regional Park District lists Quarry Lakes among its formal swimming facilities and posts open or closed status for swim sites. (ktvu.com) That makes it one of the nearest named alternatives to an unsanctioned creek entry. ### Who is enforcing the restriction in Niles Creek? Fremont police said enforcement is being coordinated with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Alameda County and Caltrans. (ebparks.org) The city bulletin said officers and partner agencies will enforce trespassing laws in the Niles Creek area during the holiday period. (ebparks.org) The Fremont Police Department’s public site lists May 25 as a city-observed holiday closure for the department lobby, but the warning itself indicates field enforcement around Niles Creek is continuing through the weekend. That distinction matters for residents seeking in-person services versus those headed to the creek area. ### What should residents watch for through the holiday weekend? (content.govdelivery.com) May 25 is Memorial Day, and Fremont’s city calendar lists it as a city-observed holiday. Police have already asked the public to avoid Niles Creek and its surrounding lands, and the city bulletin points residents to the existing closure and trespassing rules rather than announcing a temporary swim advisory. (fremont.gov) The next concrete development is continued holiday-weekend enforcement in the Niles Creek area by Fremont police and partner agencies. For residents looking for official updates, the city directs people to its alert and notification channels and police communications pages. (content.govdelivery.com) (fremont.gov)