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King for a Day

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People tide-watch from the Del Norte Street pier. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • People tide-watch from the Del Norte Street pier.
The Journal was invited to take a New Year's Eve float on Humboldt Bay to check out the king tides that came lapping at our shores. Some of the year's highest tides give ocean watchers (like Humboldt Baykeeper, who provided this tour) a chance to see the coastal fallout of rising oceans. 

It's a  bit  difficult to appreciate how different king tides are for those of us unfamiliar (this reporter included) with what normal high tides look like from an on-the-water perspective, but Baykeeper docent Maggie Herbelin did a good job explaining the day's unusual views.

We'll let the pictures tell the story:


Pilings are nearly submerged south of the Wharfinger dock. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Pilings are nearly submerged south of the Wharfinger dock.

A boat zips by homeless encampments on the bay side of the Bayshore Mall. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • A boat zips by homeless encampments on the bay side of the Bayshore Mall.
Water laps at the Chevron Terminal. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Water laps at the Chevron Terminal.
"No Wake Zone" at the Chevron Terminal dock. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • "No Wake Zone" at the Chevron Terminal dock.
Water pushes over the jetty wall onto the north spit beach. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Water pushes over the jetty wall onto the north spit beach.
Along the north spit. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Along the north spit.
Egrets on the line near the Fox Farms plant. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Egrets on the line near the Fox Farms plant.
You can't see the top of this dock from the Baykeeper boat, Herbelin explained, except during king tides. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • You can't see the top of this dock from the Baykeeper boat, Herbelin explained, except during king tides.

Maggie Herbelin points at high water near Finn Town. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Maggie Herbelin points at high water near Finn Town.

High waters soak the bottom of a boathouse on Indian Island. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • High waters soak the bottom of a boathouse on Indian Island.

Water-covered grass on Indian Island. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Water-covered grass on Indian Island.

Under State Route 255. Note the high water line on the foot of the column. Herbelin said that was likely from the morning's then-receding high tide, though could have been left by a boat wake. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Under State Route 255. Note the high water line on the foot of the column. Herbelin said that was likely from the morning's then-receding high tide, though could have been left by a boat wake.
Ramps to the Wharfinger dock were nearly level as the tide receded. - GRANT SCOTT-GOFORTH
  • Grant Scott-Goforth
  • Ramps to the Wharfinger dock were nearly level as the tide receded.

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