Light penetration into the water column is specified as the light extinction coefficient (Kd). In turbid waters like San Francisco Bay, suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) and dissolved organic matter determine how light reduces with depth, affecting phytoplankton growth and ecosystem productivity. Integrating direct measurements of light extinction, turbidity, SSC, hydrodynamic outputs, and remote sensing into Kd estimations is vital for modeling ecosystem responses to light conditions.