Humboldt Bay

For the bay in New Guinea known as Humboldt Bay from 1827 to 1968, see Yos Sudarso Bay.
Humboldt Bay
Wigi (Wiyot)
Aerial view of Humboldt Bay
and the City of Eureka
Humboldt Bay is located in California
Humboldt Bay
Humboldt Bay
LocationHumboldt County,
North Coast, California
Coordinates40°45′13.53″N 124°12′54.73″W / 40.7537583°N 124.2152028°W / 40.7537583; -124.2152028
River sourcesElk River; Jacoby, Freshwater, and Salmon Creeks.
Ocean/sea sourcesPacific
Basin countriesUnited States
Max. length14 miles (23 km)
Max. width4.5 miles (7 km)
Surface area13 square miles (34 km2)/25.5 square miles (66 km2) (min/max tide)
(17,000 acres)
Average depth11 feet (3.4 m)
Max. depth40 feet (12 m) (dredged)
IslandsTuluwat Island, Woodley Island, Daby Island
SettlementsEureka, Arcata
References[1]
Official nameHumboldt Harbor Historical District[2]
Reference no.882

Humboldt Bay (Wiyot: Wigi)[3] is a natural bay[4] and a multi-basin, bar-built coastal lagoon[5] located on the rugged North Coast of California, entirely within Humboldt County, United States. It is the largest protected body of water on the West Coast between San Francisco Bay and Puget Sound, the second-largest enclosed bay in California,[6] and the largest port between San Francisco and Coos Bay, Oregon.[5] The largest city adjoining the bay is Eureka, the regional center and county seat of Humboldt County, followed by the city of Arcata. These primary cities, together with adjoining unincorporated communities and several small towns, comprise a Humboldt Bay Area with a total population of nearly 80,000 people. This comprises nearly 60% of the population of Humboldt County.[7] The bay is home to more than 100 plant species, 300 invertebrate species, 100 fish species, and 200 bird species.[8] In addition, the bay and its complex system of marshes and grasses support hundreds of thousands of migrating and local shore birds.[9] Commercially, this second-largest estuary in California is the site of the largest oyster production operations on the West Coast, producing more than half of all oysters farmed in California.[10]

The Port of Humboldt Bay (also referred to as the Port of Eureka) is a deep water port with harbor facilities, including large industrial docks at Fairhaven, Samoa, and Fields Landing designed to serve cargo and other vessels. Several marinas also located in Greater Eureka have the capacity to serve hundreds of small to mid-size boats and pleasure craft.[11] Beginning in the 1850s, the bay was used extensively to export logs and forest products as part of the historic West coast lumber trade, but with the decline of the industry lumber now is only infrequently shipped from the port.[11]

  1. ^ Shellfish Growing Area Classification for Humboldt Bay Technical Report # 06-11 (PDF). California Department of Health Services. March 2006. p. 87. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 September 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Humboldt Harbor Historical District". Office of Historic Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-07.
  3. ^ Friends of the Dunes – Cultural History.
  4. ^ "Humboldt Bay Management Plan Executive Summary" (PDF). Humboldt Bay Harbor Recreation and Conservation District. May 2007. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 February 2012. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  5. ^ a b Costa, Steven L.; Karen A. Glatzel (September 2002). "Coastal Inlets Research Program: Humboldt Bay, California Entrance Channel, Report 1: Data Review" (PDF). U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 4, 2011. Retrieved 13 December 2012.
  6. ^ Schlosser, Susan; Eicher, Annie (2012). Humboldt Bay and Eel River Estuary Benthic Habitat Project (PDF). University of California San Diego: California Sea Grant College Program Publication No. T-075. p. 246. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  7. ^ "Draft Transit Dev Plan Humboldt County Systems". PMC/HDR. December 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2013.
  8. ^ "Humboldt Bay Sea Level Rise Adaptation Plan" (PDF). California Coastal Commission. 2012. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  9. ^ "WHSRN Humboldt Bay Complex". Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. 2009. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  10. ^ Pomeroy, Caroline; Cynthia J. Thomson; Melissa M. Stevens (August 2010). California's North Coast Fishing Communities Historical Perspective and Recent Trends: Eureka Fishing Community Profile (PDF). National Oceans and Atmospheres Administration California Sea Grant Program. p. 79. Retrieved 9 December 2012.
  11. ^ a b Hills, Cody (6 December 2012). "Backyard of Boats". North Coast Journal, Eureka, California. Retrieved 6 January 2013.