Estuario Weekly Update
An estuarine greeting! Below, we share the events, activities and initiatives scheduled in benefit of the ecosystems and communities of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Complete your Citizen Scientist Certification in the Coastal Resilience Module
Get the knowledge you need to help strengthen your community’s coastal regions. See the available Coastal Resilience Module events and sign up today, in estuario.org/ccc. We add new workshops and field experiences regularly.
The Coastal Resilience module entails the topics of Coral Reef Assessment, Seagrass Assessment, and Coastal Restoration of Dunes and Mangroves.
If you are one of the citizen scientists who have participated in the workshops and field trips for one of the topics related to the Coastal Resilience Module, the SJBEP encourages you to continue your certification. For any questions, or if you want to know your certification status, write us at: [email protected]. Certification is free of charge.
Workshop on the identification and elimination of illicit discharges in Loíza Street
Did you know that illicit discharges can directly affect your beaches? Learn how, with the educational workshop, Protejamos nuestras aguas: identificación y reporte de descargas ilícitas; on Thursday, August 22, 2024, from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Taller Comunidad La Goyco. All neighbors and friends of Loíza Street are invited.
In addition to providing the in-person workshop, we will be providing this workshop virtually, on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Sign up today, here.
School activities in the Condado Lagoon
The SJBEP is offering educational activities in the Jaime Benítez Park, from interpretive tours, workshops and other activities related to the topics of biodiversity, ecosystems, water quality, green infrastructure and coastal resilience.
Spaces are available Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., for groups of all levels (K-12), from public, private or homeschoolers, with a maximum of 30 participants per activity. These activities count towards Green Contact hours (Contacto Verde).
To coordinate, write us at: [email protected].
Collaborative course between the SJBEP and the UPR
The SJBEP invites you to enroll in the Acercamientos innovadores para una infraestructura del recurso de agua sostenible (Section 033); open to master’s and doctoral students at the UPRRP and UPRM. There are still spaces available. Enroll today.
Seed collection in Piñones
On Friday, August 2nd, five volunteers participated in the collection of seeds of several species of coastal vegetation in the Piñones State Forest. Led by the coordinators, Agnes Pagán and Andreína Alexatos, the citizen scientists collected seeds of red mangrove, white mangrove, black mangrove and button mangrove. The activity included an educational talk on how to identify trees and their stages of growth.
Planting of coastal vegetation in Arecibo
On Saturday, August 10, 21 volunteers planted about 870 specimens of red and white mangrove in Arecibo. The planting was carried out in collaboration with Surfrider Puerto Rico. The arborist, Andreína Alexatos, gave a short talk about the importance of mangrove ecosystems on our coasts. This planting counted as field experience for the certification of citizen scientists in the Coastal Resilience Module.
Participatory bird census in Julio E. Monagas Park
Listening to the song of the Adelaide’s warbler, 23 people participated in the most recent bird census of the Estuario certification for citizen scientists, in the Julio E. Monagas Park, in Bayamón, on Saturday, August 10. They were guided by Coral Avilés and Eliezer Nieves, from the SJBEP education team.
We congratulate the three citizen scientists who completed the requirements of the Participatory Bird Census Module! We invite all those interested in learning more about our avifauna to participate in our upcoming activities. We will have a new workshop and field trip for the month of September. Stay up-to-date with our Weekly Update.
Citizen Scientists Certification
Below are the upcoming scheduled events. See more events at: estuario.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring Module:
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module:
Coastal Resilience Module:
Employment Opportunities
Content Editing & Development Services—The SJBEP is requesting editing and content development services for two publications: a narrative/historical book of the SJBE and the revision of the SJBEP Plan.
Estuary Resident Artists – Request for Proposals—Estuario Artists-in-Residence 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.
Download 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
Evaluation carried out Thursday, August 15, 2024. We have a GREEN flag for the Condado Lagoon. Two stations exceeded the water quality parameter for enterococci of 70CFU/100ML. We recommend avoiding the water during precipitation events.
