S.A.M.E. members viewing the Model. The Model is an impressive 3-D representation of the San Francisco Bay and the Delta! It is capable of simulating tides, currents, river inflows and other variables affecting water quality and movement of the Estuary. Built in 1957 by the US Army Corps of Engineers, the Bay Model spreads over 1.5 acres and is constructed with 286 five-ton concrete slabs. This one-of-a-kind facility was originally built as a scientific tool, proposed to test the impact of changes to the Bay and related waterways.