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Fremont Weir Wildlife Area

Notice: Limited access to Fremont Weir Wildlife Area due to the Yolo Bypass Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Fish Passage (Big Notch) Project

See the closure area map (PDF).

Additional public access options have been created to accommodate hunters for the first half of California's dove season, September 1-15, 2024, including a pedestrian over crossing outside of the construction zone on the eastern side of the wildlife area (see map CR116) and additional public access reopened on the west side of the wildlife area (see map CR116A)

For more information on this project:, visit the Project page (DWR) or contact Elizabeth Vasquez, DWR, (916) 707-1268.

For Wildlife Area or user concerns contact: Fremont Weir Wildlife Area Manager, Josh Bush, (916) 240-6350.

Description

The Fremont Weir Wildlife Area consists of approximately 1,500 acres of tall weedy vegetation, brush, valley oaks, willows and cottonwood trees. Pheasant, valley quail and waterfowl are found here. The area is a floodway. When the water level in the Sacramento River reaches a high level, the water flows over the Fremont Weir into the Yolo Bypass.

In 1978, fishing and, to a lesser extent, hunting were the major public uses for the area and these uses continue today. The property was designated as a wildlife area by the Fish and Game Commission in 1981.

For more information, call the North Central Region Rancho Cordova office at (916) 358-2900.

fishing wildlife viewing pheasant hunting waterfowl hunting deer hunting quail hunting turkey hunting hunting with shotguns archery hunting

Activities: fishing, wildlife viewing, bird watching, and seasonal hunting

WARNING: DO NOT ENTER THIS WILDLIFE AREA WHEN THE RIVER IS RISING OR WATER IS FLOWING ACROSS THE FIELDS. SEE HIGH WATER CLOSURES TAB.

Hunting:

  • Pheasant: Population is good
  • Waterfowl: Best hunting is late in the season if there has been enough rain to fill the low areas.
  • Mourning dove, cottontail and jackrabbits: Scattered throughout the area.
  • Deer (Zone D-4), quail, and wild turkey: Populations are fair.

Type C: Fremont Weir Wildlife Area does not require the purchase of a hunting pass for entry. Entry permits and/or passes or special drawing may be required for hunting on some Type C wildlife areas.

Facilities: None

NOTE: Visitors are responsible for knowing and complying with all regulations pertaining to the use of Department lands.

Refer to the Public Uses on State and Federal Lands section of the Waterfowl, Upland Game, and Public Use Regulations (PDF) booklet for both statewide and property-specific regulations.

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You may not operate a drone on CDFW Lands without a Special Use Permit.

SPECIAL NOTICE: County Road 16 Gate Operation During High Water Flows

In October 2017, Yolo County Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation by County Staff and Reclamation District 1600, adopted a resolution to operate a gate on County Road 16 leading to the Fremont Weir Wildlife Area Parking Lot. Please be advised.

  1. Gate installed across County Road 16 will operate under the following conditions:
    • The water elevation at the Fremont Weir monitoring gauge on the Sacramento River reaches 34.00 feet (North American Vertical Datum, NAVD88). The gate may remain closed by Reclamation District 1600 until the Sacramento River level goes below 34.00 feet.
    • The Road Commissioner permits Reclamation District 1600 to close the gate ahead of a forecasted major weather event or during other disasters or emergencies.
  2. Allow the Reclamation Districts to close County Road 117, and County Road 22 from County Road 118 to County Road 126, to public through traffic in either of the following circumstances:
    • The water elevation at the Fremont Weir monitoring gauge on the Sacramento River reaches 37.50 feet (NAVD88). The closure may remain in effect until the Sacramento River level goes below 37.50 feet.
    • The Road Commissioner permits road closure ahead of a forecasted major weather event.

Sacramento River Fremont Weir Gauge

Fremont Weir Flood Road Closure Map (PDF)

For more information, please call:

  • Yolo County, Natural Resources Division
    (530) 666-8150
  • Reclamation District 1600
    (530) 662-7367
map of Fremont Weir WA - click to enlarge in new window
Click to enlarge

Location

North Central Region (Region 2)

Sutter and Yolo counties

Approximately 7.5 miles northeast of Woodland

Access: PLEASE NOTE -- The ONLY vehicle access to the wildlife area is from County Rd. 16 on the east side of the wildlife area. Access to the west side of the wildlife area is by County Rd. 116A by non-vehicular means such as walking. There is no parking area on the west side of the wildlife area. Access is allowed through private property and firearms should remain unloaded until you enter the wildlife area.

  • From Sacramento: Travel I-5 north toward Woodland. Take the County Rd. 22 Exit after crossing over the Sacramento River. Turn right or east on County Rd. 22 take the first left, County Rd. 117, over the railroad tracks. Travel on County Rd. 117 for 5.8 miles and turn left (west) on County Rd. 16 (unpaved). County Rd. 16 will terminate at the parking lot on the east levee of the Fremont Weir Wildlife Area (Yolo Bypass).
  • From Woodland: Travel I-5 south toward Sacramento 7 miles over the Yolo Bypass Causeway and take the County Rd. 22 Exit before crossing over the Sacramento River. Turn right or east on County Rd. 22 take the first left, County Rd. 117, over the railroad tracks. Travel on County Rd. 117 for 5.8 miles and turn left (west) on County Rd. 16 (unpaved). County Rd. 16 will terminate at the parking lot on the east levee of the Fremont Weir Wildlife Area (Yolo Bypass).

WARNING: DO NOT ENTER THIS WILDLIFE AREA WHEN THE RIVER IS RISING OR WATER IS FLOWING ACROSS THE FIELDS. SEE HIGH WATER CLOSURES TAB.

CDFW Lands Viewer

Wildlife Branch - Lands Program
Mailing: P.O. Box 944209, Sacramento, CA 94244-2090