Despite the fact that considerable information now exists on the major oceanic current system, off the Pacific Coast, little is known about the near shore currents in many regions of the west coast states. The Bodega Bay area of California is a case in point. Because of the proposed construction of a nuclear-powered steam plant on Bodega Head and its proximity to both the Pacific Marine Station of the University of the Pacific and to the future marine laboratory of the University of California, it has become necessary to learn as much as possible about the currents in the immediate vicinity of Bodega head. Prior to 1962, few or no current studies were made within the fifty fathom curve off Bodega Bay, although the Pacific Marine Station maintained two oceanographic stations off Bodega Head monthly from 1959 to 1963 as part of the CALCOFI program. One of these stations was at the head of Bodega Canyon, some 25 miles offshore, and the was on the 50 fathom isobath, about five miles offshore. This study describes the results of 28 drift bottle experiments performed from July 1962 to July 1963 in the Bodega Bay region. The point of release of the drift bottles in all experiments except the last three was the cove of Bodega Head about 4000 feet south of Horseshoe Cove. (This cove would be the outfall area for the effluent waters from a power generation plant on Bodega Head.) Two of the other three drift bottle releases were on a line WSW from Bodega Head to the head of Bodega Canyon, while the third release was just north of the mouth of Stemple Creek in Bodega Bay.