Estuario Weekly Update
An estuarine greeting! Below, we share the initiatives and activities organized in benefit of the ecosystems and communities of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Workshop on Identification and Reporting of Illicit Discharges
Learn about the consequences of sanitary discharges in our waters and the process to report and correct them. The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership invites you to the workshop: Protejamos nuestras aguas: identificación y reporte de descargas ilícitas; on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Sign up today, here.
Document your habitat restoration and conservation project!
Each year, the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership documents the habitat restoration and conservation efforts that different sectors are implementing within the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed. This way, we’re able to recognize the progress that we as a region are making in the restoration and conservation of our habitats, as well as collecting valuable information to support public investment in this type of effort. If your community, organization, or agency has implemented a habitat restoration or conservation project — planting, cleaning, or other — click here to document and acknowledge it.
Collaborative course between the SJBEP and the UPR
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership invites you to enroll in the CIAM 8990 course: Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Water Resource Infrastructure (Section 033); open to master’s and doctoral students at the University of Puerto Rico in Rio Piedras and Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez. There are still spaces available. Enroll today.
Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve
Last Saturday, August 3rd, we held our Family Day in the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve. We started with our information table at 11:00 a.m. and a volleyball game. At three in the afternoon, we began the talk, Let’s protect our waters: identification and reporting of illegal discharges; in which seven people participated.
At four in the afternoon, we held the educational talk, Biodiversity of the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve, in which six people participated. We talked about the new interpretive path in the Reserve, marine life and its mangrove ecosystem.
At five o’clock in the afternoon, the Silent Disco Party began, where everyone enjoyed music responsibly, without interrupting the normal life of the Reserve.
Finally, at 7:30 p.m., 47 people gathered for the Cine del Estuario screening of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.
We thank Héctor Sáez, of Recreation and Sports, for his continuous support and José Ramos, administrator of the Jaime Benítez Park, for his collaboration with the activities of the SJBEP. Thanks also to the Municipal Park Police and to Estuardo and Mindy from EUFORIK Puerto Rico, for bringing music through headphones.
The next Family Day will be on Saturday, September 7th. See you then!
Characterization of microplastics in estuarine waters
We carried out the most recent field experience of the Microplastic Characterization and Reduction module of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists, last Saturday, August 3, 2024. Five volunteers participated, removing and evaluating samples of microplastics from the San José and Los Corozos lagoons. See future Microplastics Characterization and Reduction module activities, in estuario.org/ccc.
Planting coastal vegetation in Piñones
On Saturday, July 27, 2024, a planting of coastal vegetation was carried out in La Pocita de Piñones, as part of the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists. A total of 31 volunteers participated, planting around 257 trees of various species, including red mangroves, broad beans, seagrapes, button mangroves and cocoplums.
We thank Scout Jesús González, who collaborated in the planting with his Eagle project and donated shovels, snacks and gloves to strengthen future Coastal Resilience plantings. Thanks also to all the volunteers who joined us, and to the coordinators, Andreína Alexatos and Agnes Pagán.
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the events scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information at: estuario.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring Module:
Participatory Bird Census Module:
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module:
Coastal Resilience Module:
Let's reduce our environmental footprint together, from coast to coast
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership joins the environmental entities Limpia and Alelí Environmental, Inc. to reduce waste and create environmental awareness throughout Puerto Rico.
Visit us and learn about the educational initiatives to reduce waste: Que no toque el piso ni llegue al agua, Deja una huella limpia en Piñones and Comida sin huella.
Employment Opportunities
Content Editing & Development Services—The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership is requesting editing and content development services for two publications: a narrative/historical book of the San Juan Bay Estuary and the revision of the San Juan Bay Estuary Plan.
Estuario Artists-in-Residence – Request for Proposals—Estuario Resident Artists generate artistic expressions with the goal of engaging citizens in the process of conservation and restoration of the estuarine watershed, in a creative and culturally relevant way.
[Get your free copy] San Juan Bay Estuary: Research History and Opportunities
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership is pleased to share the recent publication, San Juan Bay Estuary: Research History and Opportunities; by Ariel E. Lugo and Jorge F. Bauzá Ortega.
This comprehensive document includes valuable information on research conducted in the estuarine system, calling for adding to these observations, findings, and conclusions in potential future research.
To arrange for a paperback pickup, please contact us at 787-725-8165.
Prepare for this Hurricane Season
Get ready for this hurricane season. Download the Estuario Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide and follow its recommendations. The strength and resilience of your community starts at home.
Also visit the Estuario Virtual Community Hub, where you’ll find vital information such as relevant emergency number information and instructions for preparing emergency backpacks.
Don’t get scared! Get prepared.
Weekly water quality monitoring
Assessment conducted Thursday, August 8, 2024. We have a RED flag for Condado Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the areas that exceeded the enterococci water quality standard of 70CFU/100ML. Remember to avoid the water during rain events.
