This layer is a 10-color shaded relief GeoTIFF that contains high-resolution bathymetric data collected from the North-Central Monterey Bay region of California. The survey for Central Monterey Bay (North) was conducted conducted on September 3, 5-11, 2009; October 21-23, 2009; November 1, 3, 5-6, 8-12, 2009. This layer was created as part of the California Seafloor Mapping Project. Marine data offered here represent the efforts of a comprehensive state waters mapping program for California launched by the California State Coastal Conservancy, Ocean Protection Council, Department of Fish and Game, and the NOAA National Marine Sanctuary Program. The ultimate goal is the creation of a high-resolution 1:24,000 scale geologic and habitat base map series covering all of California's 14,500 km2 state waters out to the 3 mile limit, and support of the state's Marine Life Protection Act Initiative (MLPA) goal to create a statewide network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). This statewide project requires, involves and leverages expertise from industry, resource management agencies and academia. The tiered mapping campaign involves the use of state-of-the-art sonar, LIDAR (aerial laser) and video seafloor mapping technologies; computer aided classification and visualization; expert geologic and habitat interpretations codified into strip maps spanning California's land/sea boundary; and the creation of an online, publicly accessible data repository for the dissemination of all mapping products. Seafloor Mapping Lab. (2010) 2-Meter Shaded Relief Multibeam Bathymetry Image (Color): North-Central Monterey Bay, California, 2009. Seafloor Mapping Lab. Available at: http://purl.stanford.edu/jd905bw7294 MBES and side scan data for the South Monterey Bay region were acquired using a 200 KHz/ 400 KHz Reson 7125 sonar aboard the R/V VenTresca by the Seafloor Mapping Lab at California State University Monterey Bay. Prior to data collection, a series of planned survey lines were created using the survey navigation and planning software Hypack 2008 from Hypack, Inc. An Applanix POS/MV 320 v4 system was used to provide position and attitude data during data collection and accounted for vessel motion such as heave, pitch, and roll (position accuracy ± 2m, pitch, roll and heading accuracy ±0.02°, heave accuracy ± 5% or 5cm) with input from a Cnav® enabled NAVCON 2050 GPS. KGPS altitude data were used to account for tide cycle fluctuations and sound velocity profiles were collected with an Applied Microsystems SVPlus sound velocimeter. Data acquisition, post-processing, and final products derived from multibeam bathymetry data were handled by the Seafloor Mapping Lab at CSUMB. This layer is presented in the WGS84 coordinate system for web display purposes. Downloadable data are provided in native coordinate system or projection.