King tides returning this week cause safety concerns at local beaches

If you’re looking to escape the heat with a dip in the water, we’ve got a warning for you. King tides are returning to the Central Coast this week.

The seasonal king tides rule the water, bringing in the highest tides of the year, sometimes high enough to flood local roads, like the entrance to the Zmudowski State Beach in Moss Landing. The road isn’t level, so it’s tough to gauge exactly how deep the water is in some parts.

“It’s a little intense. We came out here yesterday for the first time. The road’s pretty messed up. But you stick to the left or you’ll get stuck out there,” visitor Manny Aguayo said.

On Monday, the Elkhorn Slough Safari tour group was out and about. They said the higher water levels help boost business.

“It creates a bigger surface, more of a mudflat and more food for the birds to come in and feed and less effort for the otters to who dig up the clams. So when we’re doing all our tours, we get to see a little more stuff,” said tour captain Yohn Gideon.

But it’s not all fun and games. Local crab fishermen said if they aren’t careful, they could lose their gear, which would cost them.

“With the higher tides it pulls some of the buoys under the water and makes it harder for us to pull the crab gear because they’ll be under the water then as the tide recedes down we can’t get our gear back or pull it up,” said a local fisherman.

According to the National Weather Service, the king tides officially begin on Tuesday and will end on Thursday. Researchers with the Elkhorn Slough Foundation want your help documenting the tides.

For specific guidelines for photographing king tides visit: http://elkhornslough.org/kingtides.