Estuario Weekly Update
Estuarine greetings! Below, we share with you the activities, collaborations and opportunities that strengthen the conservation of the waters of the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) and the well-being of its communities. Thank you for staying connected and being part of this collective effort.
Planting at Condado Lagoon
On Saturday, July 12, twelve volunteers carried out a planting in the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve. They planted over 550 specimens of white mangrove, green buttonwood and red mangrove. They also evaluated and reinforced past plantings.
The planting was carried out as a field experience of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists’ Coastal Resilience module, with a focus on the mangrove ecosystem. The group was led by the coordinators, Andreína Alexatos and Agnes Pagán.
Family Day at the Condado Lagoon
The Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve returns! This month, we celebrate mangrove ecosystems. Join us on Saturday, August 2, 2025, starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Jaime Benítez Park.
We will have a sports activity, educational games, an educational talk, a tour of the Reserve and opportunities to accumulate hours of Contacto Verde or community service, as applicable.
See more information at: estuario.org/eventos. The family day takes place on the first Saturday of each month.
Cine del Estuario presents: Dune 2
Cine del Estuario presents: Dune 2; on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Jaime Benítez Park of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Natural Reserve. The film will be screened in Spanish, with English subtitles. This feature is free of charge. Bring your blanket or chair! Cine del Estuario is presented on the first Saturday of each month.
Help us improve the infrastructure of the San Juan metropolitan region
The draft Action Plan #1 of the SJBE Comprehensive Conservation and Restoration Plan (CCMP) revision is now available. We encourage all citizens, scientists, experts, and other interested persons to review it and share their questions, concerns, additions, and other comments on or before Friday, August 15, 2025.
The actions presented focus on maintaining and improving outdated and poorly maintained gray and green infrastructure that negatively impacts water and sediment quality in the estuarine bed: Sanitary water, stormwater, drainage and water exchange infrastructure, to mitigate erosion and sediment transport, port and vessels, of transport and mobility, collaborative monitoring of water quality and analysis of impacts from areas outside the current study area.
We will hold two conversations to generate discussion and inspiration:
- Scientific and technical conversation for scientists, experts, and knowledge-holders of the SJBE system, on Monday, July 21, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the SJBEP’s offices in Santurce, San Juan, with virtual space.
- Community conversation for residents, neighbors, and friends of the region, on Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the SJBEP’s offices in Santurce, San Juan, with virtual space.
Sign up today, at estuario.org/eventos.
We greatly appreciate your support in sharing this information and ensuring that as many citizens, communities, scientists, and experts as possible can actively participate in this review. Let’s define the future of the waters of the metropolitan region of San Juan together.
Enroll in the graduate course: CIAM 8990 – Innovative Approaches for Sustainable Water Infrastructure
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
Faculty of Natural Sciences | Department of Environmental Sciences
Graduate Course: CIAM 8990 – Section 033
Fall Semester (August – December) 2025
Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 11:50 a.m. @ Room C-221
Credits: 3
An Interdisciplinary Research Opportunity from the Juan Méndez Creek
This theoretical-practical course, developed in partnership with the San Juan Bay Estuary Program (SJBEP), proposes an innovative approach to the analysis and planning of resilient water infrastructure in urban contexts. Through the case study of the Juan Méndez Creek, knowledge about its social, ecological and technological context will be integrated for the formulation of research proposals.
Course objectives:
- Strengthen interdisciplinary research and analysis skills
- Explore participatory planning approaches with communities and government entities (state and municipal)
- Design proposals for sustainable management and resilient infrastructure contextualized to the reality of Puerto Rico
- Participate in field visits, workshops, and collaborative exercises
Who is it for?
The course is open to master’s and doctoral students from various disciplines, including Environmental Sciences, Planning, Engineering, Architecture, Social Sciences and related.
Academic and Career Opportunities
- Expert advice for the development of proposals applicable to theses or research projects
- Possibility to compete for an Estuario-sponsored Fellowship (limited places)
- Direct collaboration with the SJBEP’s team of experts
- Participation in field trips through the Juan Méndez Creek basin
Register for the course briefing with Prof. Jorge Ortiz-Zayas and Brenda Torres Barreto, TA of the course and SJBEP Executive Director, on July 29 via the events portal of the SJBEP’s website: estuario.org/eventos
Contact Information: Prof. Jorge Ortiz-Zayas – [email protected]
Request for Proposal
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership seeks qualified applicants to provide services as a Technical Support Consultant and support Estuario’s water quality and environmental data monitoring and related efforts through technical support, data management, analysis, synthesis, and visualization.
See the RFP at: estuario.org/empleos
Recycling Pop-Up at Loíza
On Saturday, July 19, we will be present with our information table at LimPiaR’s monthly event, Pop-up de Reciclaje, at the Miguel Fuentes Pinet Park, in Loíza.
Visit us and learn about preventing vegetable oil from reaching gray infrastructure, Loíza’s vegetable oil diversion program, and the importance of protecting the integrity of our water infrastructure and natural resources. Also learn about the joint campaign of the SJBEP and LimPiaR, Deja una huella limpia en Piñones.
We recognize the people of Loíza’s vegetable oil diversion program, who maintain this effort and the infrastructure to divert the oil from the residents of the municipality. We thank LimPiaR, for the invitation and follow-up to this event. See you there!
Estuario joins Un sunset diferente
In collaboration with the organizations, Sin Plástico and Scuba Dogs Society, the SJBEP participated in the educational and cleanup: Un sunset diferente, on Saturday, July 12. As part of the event, volunteers removed about 125 lbs. of solid waste from the southern area of the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve.
At the end of the cleanup, the SJBEP Public Policy Advisor, Stacy Larancuent, offered an educational talk on Act 51-2022: Law to prohibit the sale and use of single-use plastics. The talk served to clarify doubts about Act 51-2022, provide updates on it and invite participants to be aware of the materials we use and generate.
As a reminder, the materials that are prohibited in this legislation are: plates, glasses, cups, cutlery, single-use straws and “to go” takeaway food containers. We invite you to replace these materials with reusable items in our day to day.
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information in estuario.org/ccc. These activities count toward community and Contacto Verde hours.
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Microplastic Characterization and Reduction Field Experience; Saturday, July 26, at 9:00 a.m. Location to be announced
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; Thursday, July 24, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Coastal Resilience Field Experience: Planting coastal vegetation; on Saturday, July 26, at 8:00 a.m. in Piñones, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Field Experience: Planting coastal vegetation; on Sunday, July 27, at 8:00 a.m. in Piñones, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Field Experience: Planting coastal vegetation; on Saturday, August 2, at 8:00 a.m. in Piñones, Loíza
Prepare for 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 numbers and instructions for preparing emergency backpacks.
Don’t get scared! Get prepared.
Weekly water quality monitoring
We thank the volunteers who supported this week’s bacteriological evaluation, as part of the Water Quality Monitoring module of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists. Here are the results:
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, July 17, 2025. We have a RED flag for the Condado Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the areas that have exceeded the “Beach Action Value” water quality parameter for 70 CFU/100 ML enterococci. Remember to avoid the water during rain events.
