President of Harbor Corporation: City sheltered from high waves that hit coast

While king tides, the higher tides caused by a combination of natural forces, prompted warnings along the Pacific coastline Tuesday and Wednesday, Benicia was sheltered from the waves’ effects.

John Ash, president of Benicia Harbor Corporation, said when the Benicia Marina was designed more than 30 years ago by Dr. Ralf Carter, he planned for such high tides.

The marina was dedicated in 1983.

Water would have to rush in several feet higher before it would have any impact on the boats and docks, Ash said Tuesday. “It’s all normal,” he said.

King tides, which are unusually high tides, prompted a coastal flooding advisory for vulnerable parts of California, and the tides were expected to bring “extreme surf” conditions to the Pacific coastline through Wednesday.

The nickname for the highest tides originated in Australia and New Zealand, where it’s used for the unusually high tides that happen just a few times a year.

The tides are created by the movement of water across the ocean, gravitational forces and the rotation of the Earth.

They occur when the Earth, moon and sun are aligned at perigee, when the moon is closest to the Earth, and perihelion, when the Earth is closest to the sun.

Local weather and ocean conditions can affect when king tides form, but they can happen about this time every year.

Meanwhile, Graham Wadsworth, director of Public Works, said his crews were monitoring East Second Street between D and E streets, which he called his “area of concern.”

“Standby staff will close the street if it is unsafe,” he said. “This should not be necessary unless there is significant rainfall during a high tide.”

In the meantime, Benicia’s downtown ball fields, Maria Field at 301 East I St., and Fitzgerald Field, 260 East I St., still have some standing water.

Mike Dotson, director of Parks and Community Services, said the situation isn’t unusual for the winter months.

“During heavy rains, it is common that the downtown ball fields flood,” he said.

Nor is Dotson worried.

“This does not damage the fields, but does take them a long time to dry out,” he said. “Fortunately, the downtown fields are closed for the winter and won’t be played on till February.”

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