The ICON model, a high-resolution, data-assimilating, model of the Monterey Bay area, was initially designed for studying mesoscale features such as eddies and upwelling filaments. Tidal forcing is now being implemented into this model to facilitate short-term particle-tracking studies, and to move towards a real-time operational forecast model. Although barotropic tidal currents in this area are relatively small, they are highly spatially variable due to the complex bathymetry. The baroclinic tidal currents can be an order of magnitude larger, and contribute significantly to the kinetic energy, as well as producing a highly variable density field – thus producing challenges for data assimilating models that do not include tidal processes. Tidal forcing is introduced into the ICON model through specification of the open boundary conditions using the tidal constants interpolated from the Oregon State University Tidal Solution for the U.S. West Coast. The procedures for implementing tidal forcing are being carefully configured and tested, using the barotropic case first to evaluate the effects of different boundary conditions. The model's success in reproducing the measured bottom pressure and sea level tidal signals does not guarantee that the barotropic tidal currents are being accurately simulated. Long-term and/or depth-averaged current records from numerous locations in and around Monterey Bay are used in an attempt to characterize the barotropic tidal currents, by minimizing the contribution from internal tides. Model runs with stratification included are also being analyzed and compared to observations.