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San Pablo Bay is a tidalestuary that forms the northern extension of theSan Francisco Bay in theEast Bay andNorth Bay regions of theSan Francisco Bay Area in northernCalifornia.
Most of the Bay is shallow; however, there is a deep water channel approximately in the middle of the bay, which allows access to major ports inSacramento,Stockton,Benicia, andMartinez; and other smaller ports on theSacramento–San Joaquin River Delta.
San Pablo Bay was named afterRancho San Pablo, aSpanish land grant given to colonialAlta California settlers in 1815, on the bay at the site of the present-day city ofSan Pablo. The bay is approximately 10 mi (16 km) across and has an area of approximately 90 sq mi (230 km2).
The bay receives the waters of theSacramento andSan Joaquin rivers, viaSuisun Bay and theCarquinez Strait on its northeast end, and it connects to thePacific Ocean via the San Francisco Bay on its southern end. The bay is heavily silted from the contributions of the two rivers, which themselves drain most of theCentral Valley of California. San Pablo Bay also receives the waters ofSonoma Creek through theNapa Sonoma Marsh,San Rafael Creek, and thePetaluma River directly, and theNapa River which flows into the Carquinez Strait via the Mare Island Strait near its entrance into the bay. All tributaries except for Sonoma Creek are commercially navigable and maintained by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Twopeninsulas separate San Pablo Bay from San Francisco Bay. The eastern, Point San Pablo, is in the city ofRichmond and the western, Point San Pedro, borders the city ofSan Rafael. The bay is shared betweenContra Costa county on the southern and eastern shore, andSolano,Sonoma andMarin counties on the northern and western shores. The county boundaries meet near the center of the bay. Communities on the shores of San Pablo Bay include:Richmond,San Pablo,Pinole,Hercules,Rodeo in Contra Costa County,Vallejo in Solano County, along withNovato andSan Rafael in Marin County.
Because the Bay is close to several major and local airports, but outside of the main air traffic corridors, it is a popular pilot training area.
Because of its great size but shallow waters, San Pablo Bay frequently has difficult boating conditions. The prevailing western wind meets strong currents both at Carquinez Straits and, at the opposite end of the bay, near the Richmond Bridge, to produce large waves, with few areas of retreats for most boats.
There are many undeveloped shore lands withsalt marshes andmudflats. The Bay is a primary wintering stop for thecanvasback duck population on thePacific Flyway, as well as a migratory staging ground for numerous species of waterfowl. Much of the northern shore of the bay is protected as part of theSan Pablo Bay National Wildlife Refuge.
Endangered species that are found in the bay include the Californiabrown pelican,California clapper rail, andsalt marsh harvest mouse. This is a popular destination for recreationfishing, withSaltwater species including:striped bass,surfperch,sturgeon,starry flounder,leopard shark,topsmelt, andanchovy. In the 1880s there was a shrimp-fishing village, where some 500 Chinese people lived; they shipped approximately 90% of their catch to China. The location is now part ofChina Camp State Park.
San Pablo Bay is the setting of alternative rock bandPrimus's four-part song series "Fisherman's Chronicles," and is also referenced in "The Toys Go Winding Down" and "Harold of the Rocks." It is also mentioned inThe Minus 5 song "John Barleycorn Must Live." In Susan Choi's book,American Woman, which mirrors the Patty Hearst scandal of the 1970s, the Bay's waters are said to welcome main characters Jenny and Pauline home after they've traversed from the East coast.
38°04′N122°23′W / 38.067°N 122.383°W /38.067; -122.383
