San Diego Bay, located on California’s southernmost coast, is a large, natural deep-water harbor spanning approximately 12 square miles and connected to a watershed of roughly 415 square miles. The region experiences an average annual rainfall of 10 to 12 inches, with runoff from urbanized areas significantly influencing the bay’s water quality. San Diego Bay supports diverse habitats, including tidal marshes, eelgrass beds, and mudflats, which provide essential ecosystem services and support species such as shorebirds, fish, and marine mammals.

Human activity has profoundly shaped the bay, with extensive urban development, industrial operations, and port activities altering natural hydrodynamics and habitat availability. Sedimentation, pollution, and sea-level rise pose ongoing challenges, while the bay’s strategic importance for commerce and recreation adds additional pressures. Flooding during high tides and storms also threatens infrastructure and low-lying areas around the bay.

Real-time water level monitoring in San Diego Bay provides critical data on tidal dynamics, storm surge risks, and the impacts of sea-level rise. This information is vital for flood management, habitat restoration, and balancing the ecological health of the bay with its economic and urban significance.