The California King Tides Project help people visualize how sea level rise will impact their lives. Via smartphones and social media, we invite you to document “king tides” – the highest high tides of today, which will be the average water levels of the future. Everyone is welcome to participate!
Our shores are constantly being altered by human and natural processes and sea level rise will exacerbate these changes. King Tides images offer a living record of the changes to our coasts and shorelines and a glimpse of what our daily tides may look like in the future as a result of sea level rise.
2016/2017 King Tides Season Dates
- December 13 and 14, 2016
- January 10, 11, and 12, 2017
Find a place to view the tides and plan your shoot!
Join a group event! Below are just a few happening around King Tides. Check these out, or join with a local organization to plan your own!
| DATE/TIME | LOCATION | DESCRIPTION |
| 12/11/16 1pm-4:45pm |
Richmond: Point Pinole Regional Shoreline |
Outside Kids at Low Tide On this almost-King Tides day, come to the shoreline with your kids to explore the beach. Get more info and RSVP at www.goingoutsidekids.com |
| 12/12/16 2pm-4:30pm |
Moss Beach: Fitzgerald Marine Reserve |
Tidepools during King Tides with the Nature Journal Club Join your nature journaling friends to explore the exposed rocks during the king tides. Info: www.meetup.com/SF-Sketchers/events/235848484/ |
| 12/13/16 10am-10:45am |
San Francisco: Pier 3 (bay side of the Plant) |
A Royal Walk with the King Tide Join Exploratorium staff for a stroll along the waterfront to observe, photograph and discuss the King Tide. Rain or shine. This walk will start at Pier 3 and end at the Exploratorium on Pier 15. Free. Info: www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar or llambertson@exploratorium.edu. |
| 12/13/16 10am |
San Francisco: Crissy Field |
King Tides at Crissy Field with SF Sketchers Get a preview of what rising sea levels will look like in the Golden Gate Bridge area and do some sketching. Get RSVP info and details at www.meetup.com/SF-Sketchers/events/235383228/. |
| 12/14/16 10:30am-noon |
San Mateo: Coyote Point Recreation Area |
King Tides & Coffee Come share the king tides season with us over coffee! Bring your coffee mug, camera, jacket, and join representatives from the County of San Mateo’s sea level rise team to witness, document, and discuss the king tides. Get more info at www.seachangesmc.com/events/king-tides-and-coffee/. |
| 12/17/16 5pm-6pm |
San Rafael: China Camp State Park |
King Tides Talk Hear about how China Camp’s tidal marshes play a key role in helping scientists understand how marshes respond to sea level rise and how we can protect them. Register at friendsofchinacamp.org/event/king-tides/ |
| 1/5/17 6pm-10pm |
San Francisco: The Exploratorium |
After Dark: Catch a Wave Adults-only evening program at the Exploratorium will include a table on King Tides. Buy tickets at www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar/after-dark/1-5-2017 |
| 1/6/17 6pm-10pm |
Oakland: Chabot Space & Science Center |
First Friday: Ocean This month’s $5 First Friday will be a night all about the Ocean. San Francisco Estuary Partnership will be on hand to talk about King Tides. Get more info at www.chabotspace.org/first-fridays.htm. |
| 1/11/17 TBA |
Suisun City: Rush Ranch |
Flooded by Science and Seawater Join San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve staff for this guided walk. Register and check for details at www.sfbaynerr.org |
| 1/11/17 8:30am-10:30am |
Watsonville: Elkhorn Slough |
Elkhorn Slough Reserve King Tide Day Walk the trails of the Elkhorn Slough Reserve to view and learn about King Tides and the Reserve Management for Sea Level Rise. Bring your camera and meet in the Elkhorn Slough Reserve Visitor Center at 8:30am sharp. More information: noelle@wildlife.ca.gov or (831) 728-2822 |
| 1/11/17 7:30am-9am |
Torrance Beach: End of the strand in front of the main lifeguard station |
Urban Tides Beach Walk Contribute to a community-based science effort to photo-document flooding and erosion impacts from storms and king tides. Chat about sea level rise, the benefits of natural shorelines, and the latest scientific modeling results that project sea level rise and coastal storms in Southern California. Get more info at dornsife.usc.edu/uscseagrant/urban-tides-initiative/. Contact: Linda Chilton at lchilton@usc.edu |
| 1/11/17 9am-11am |
Imperial Beach: Tijuana Estuary Visitor Center |
Tijuana Estuary King Tide Hike Find out how the Tijuana Estuarine Research Reserve continuously measures water depth and is a sentinel site keeping track of trends with a changing climate. Learn about our award winning planning to adapt to the impacts from riverine flooding and sea level rise. Meet at the Visitor Center at 301 Caspian Way. |
| 1/12/17 TBA |
Suisun City: Rush Ranch |
Flooded by Science and Seawater Join San Francisco Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve staff for this guided walk. Register and check for details soon at www.sfbaynerr.org |
| 1/12/17 10:30am-11:15am |
San Francisco: Pier 3 (bay side of the Plant) |
A Royal Walk with the King Tide Join Exploratorium staff for a stroll along the waterfront to observe, photograph and discuss the King Tide. Rain or shine. This walk will start at Pier 3 and end at the Exploratorium on Pier 15. Free. Info: www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar or llambertson@exploratorium.edu. |
| 1/12/17 Noon-1pm |
San Francisco: The Exploratorium Bay Observatory, Pier 15 |
King Tides Project Presentation and Discussion Marina Psaros will talk about the ways citizen observations of King Tides help us understand how climate change will impact our lives. This event is free and open to the public. Info: www.exploratorium.edu/visit/calendar or (415) 846-1794. |
StoryMap Showcases King Tides Projects Around the World
We teamed up with our friends at NOAA’s Digital Coast to make this cool StoryMap, featuring King Tides projects from around the world. Click here to check it out!
Featured Media – Thank you Ocean Report Features King Tides