The highest King Tides of the year arrived in Humboldt County this week, offering both a spectacle and a warning.Unlike waves or swell, which are wind-driven, tides are the daily rise and fall of the ocean, created by the gravitational pull of the moon and sun. They become “King” tides when the sun, moon, and Earth align as the moon reaches its closest point to Earth. This amplifies gravitational pull, creating extra-high high tides and extra-low low tides. But this week’s King Tides are not just a meteorological phenomenon. They flood roadways and beaches in real time and offer a preview of the new normal as sea level rises. Think of them as a weather forecast — telling us what’s happening today and what we can expect a decade from now, or sooner. That’s why the California King Tides Project exists, to document what the future will bring. You can still participate during next month’s King Tides on Jan. 2 and Jan. 3.This watery future will affect everyone with a connection to the coast. Surfers. People who find restoration in a beach stroll, maybe with their dog cavorting alongside. People whose ancestors stretch back to time immemorial and people who arrived during the COVID boom. Anyone who drives U.S. Highway 101 or State Route 255 or Old Navy Base Road. Residents of King Salmon, Fields Landing, the Eel River Valley, or anywhere at or below sea level. People who visit pocket beaches like Luffenholz or Guthrie Creek, tide pool at Baker Beach, hike the Lost Coast, post up at Shelter Cove. Anyone who likes to drink clean water, catch fish Humboldt Bay, eat local oysters. And, of course, city and county Public Works staff, elected officials, tourism promoters, coastal developers, state regulators, transportation planners. As a coastal county, our fortunes are inextricably tied to the future of our coast.Keep Reading
