Rheem Creek is a 3 mile long urban stream

Urban stream

An urban stream is a formerly natural waterway that flows through a heavily populated area. Urban streams are often significantly polluted, due to urban runoff and combined sewer outflows....

 in western Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...

 which empties into San Pablo Bay

San Pablo Bay

San Pablo Bay is a tidal estuary that forms the northern extension of San Francisco Bay in northern California in the United States. Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in mid bay, which allows access to Sacramento, Stockton, Benicia, Martinez, and...

 south of Point Pinole. The creek rises from Rolling Hills Cemetery and passes through Rollingwood

Rollingwood, California

Rollingwood is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. As of the 2010 census, Rollingwood's population was 2,969.-Geography:...

, the campus of Contra Costa Community College, and the city of San Pablo, California

San Pablo, California

San Pablo is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city of Richmond surrounds nearly the whole city. The population was 29,139 at the 2010 census. The current Mayor is Paul V. Morris, and the current Vice Mayor is Cecilia Valdez. Current Councilmembers include Arturo M....

. Near this area at the end of the creek a business park is being built and there is some concern on how the creek may be impacted by the construction. The waterway is named after early local figure William Rheem

William Rheem

William S. Rheem , aka W.S. Rheem, was an important civic figure in the politics of early Richmond, California in addition to being president of Standard Oil.-Overview:...

.