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.
Biodiversity workshop at the Condado Lagoon
Learn about the flora and fauna of one of the ecological treasures of the San Juan Bay Estuary. Come to the educational workshop: Biodiversidad de la Reserva Natural Estuarina de la Laguna del Condado; on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom. Sign up today, here.
Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve
Join us on Saturday, September 7th, for the next Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve. We will have the following activities:
- Scavenger hunt (with Contacto Verde hours) at 2:00 p.m.
- Sport
- Educational talk, El manatí antillano: tesoro de la Laguna del Condado y el Caribe; with Yabriel Pagán and Mariellie Pérez, from Centro de Conservación de Manatíes (with Contacto Verde hours) at 4:00 p.m.
- Educational talk, Manglares en peligro, un llamado a la conservación (with Contacto Verde hours) at 5:00 p.m.
- Live reading of the story, Carlitos el cobito wants to listen to the sea; with the writer, Gabriela Joglar Burrowes, at 6:00 p.m.
Then, Cine del Estuario presents: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; at 7:00 p.m.
See you there!
Citizen scientist carries out estuarine bacteriological monitoring
We applaud the environmental commitment of Angeli Torres, who performed all phases of the weekly bacteriological monitoring of the Condado Lagoon and surrounding beaches (including equipment preparation, field sampling, sample analysis, and reporting results to the public) independently. This makes her the first citizen scientist certified and trained by the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership to lead and complete all phases of our weekly bacteriological monitoring without supervision. Awesome!
Angeli Torres is a graduate of the Ana G. Méndez University in Cupey, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in biology. She has participated as a volunteer with the Marine Mammals and Protected Species Program of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources of Puerto Rico. As a student of SEAS Island Alliance, she participated in the Bridge to PhD internship at Penn State University, where she conducted independent research, focusing on the photochemistry of corals. Currently, Angeli is a Workforce Fellow of the SEAS Island Alliance Proposal at the Interamerican University. Her work focuses on the maintenance of coral farms in Culebra.
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.
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].
Certification for Citizen Scientists
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
Accountant—The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership is seeking qualified applications for an Accountant to join our highly skilled team for projects receiving funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Part-Time Faculty—The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership is seeking qualified applications for a part-time faculty contract with a background in civil engineering for the graduate course “Innovative Approaches for a Sustainable Water Infrastructure”. This course will focus on the development of resilient infrastructure and nature-based and will integrate a multisectorial view in the study and evaluation of socio-ecological-technological urban systems. In this course, graduate students will be guided toward interdisciplinary research.
Artistas Residentes del Estuario – Request for Proposals—Los Artistas Residentes del Estuario generan expresiones artísticas con el objetivo de involucrar a los ciudadanos en el proceso de conservación y restauración de la cuenca estuarina, de una manera creativa y culturalmente relevante.
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 conducted Thursday, August 22, 2024. We have a GREEN flag for Condado Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the areas that exceeded the water quality monitoring standard for enterococci of 70CFU/100ML. Remember to avoid the water during rain events.
