ulas ▁separate ▁San ▁Pablo ▁Bay ▁from ▁San ▁Francisco ▁Bay . ▁The ▁eastern , ▁Point ▁San ▁Pablo , ▁is ▁in ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁Richmond ▁and ▁the ▁western , ▁Point ▁San ▁Pedro , ▁borders ▁the ▁city ▁of ▁San ▁Rafael . ▁The ▁bay ▁is ▁shared ▁between ▁Cont ra ▁Costa ▁county ▁on ▁the ▁southern ▁and ▁eastern ▁shore , ▁and ▁Sol ano , ▁Son oma ▁and ▁Mar in ▁count ies ▁on ▁the ▁northern ▁and ▁western ▁sh ores . ▁The ▁county ▁boundaries ▁meet ▁near ▁the ▁center ▁of ▁the ▁bay . ▁Commun ities ▁on ▁the ▁sh ores ▁of ▁San ▁Pablo ▁Bay ▁include : ▁Richmond , ▁San ▁Pablo , ▁Pin ole , ▁Her cules , ▁R ode o ▁in ▁Cont ra ▁Costa ▁County , ▁Valle jo ▁in ▁Sol ano ▁County , ▁along ▁with ▁Nov ato ▁and ▁San ▁Rafael ▁in ▁Mar in ▁County . ▁ ▁Because ▁the ▁Bay ▁is ▁close ▁to ▁several ▁major ▁and ▁local ▁air ports , ▁but ▁outside ▁of ▁the ▁main ▁air ▁traffic ▁cor rid ors , ▁it ▁is ▁a ▁popular ▁pilot ▁training ▁area . ▁ ▁Because ▁of ▁its ▁great ▁size ▁but ▁shall ow ▁waters , ▁San ▁Pablo ▁Bay ▁frequently ▁has ▁difficult ▁bo ating ▁conditions . ▁The ▁prev ail ing ▁western ▁wind ▁meets ▁strong ▁curr ents ▁both ▁at ▁Car qu ine z ▁Stra its ▁and , ▁at ▁the ▁opposite ▁end ▁of ▁the ▁bay , ▁near ▁the ▁Richmond ▁Bridge , ▁to ▁produce ▁large ▁waves , ▁with ▁few ▁areas ▁of ▁retre ats ▁for ▁most ▁boats . ▁ ▁E col ogy ▁There ▁are ▁many ▁und e velop ed ▁shore ▁lands ▁with ▁salt ▁mar