San Jose Creek is a small but ecologically important coastal watershed in Monterey County. It drains approximately 14.4 square miles of the northern Santa Lucia Mountains before flowing into the Pacific Ocean at Monastery Beach, just south of Carmel. The creek passes through forested canyons and diverse riparian habitats before reaching a small coastal lagoon and marsh separated from the ocean by a natural sand berm.
The estuary experiences seasonal changes in connectivity to the ocean as the sand berm restricts creek outflow. While high spring tides can overtop the berm, heavy rainfall events may cause it to breach, temporarily reconnecting the lagoon to the ocean. These fluctuations influence water levels, water quality, and habitat conditions and availability for various aquatic species, including the federally threatened south-central California coast steelhead.
Real-time water level monitoring at San Jose Creek provides essential information on seasonal lagoon dynamics, including the timing of mouth closures, tidal overtopping, and breach events. These observations can help researchers better understand hydrologic changes, assess potential flooding, and support restoration and management efforts aimed at protecting this sensitive coastal ecosystem.