Estuario Weekly Update
Estuarine greetings! Below, we share the events, initiatives, and training and collaboration opportunities programmed in benefit of the waters, ecosystems and communities connected to the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE).
Family Day
Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Natural Reserve is back! This month, we celebrate the Greater Caribbean Manatee Day. Join us on Saturday, September 6, 2025, starting at 3:00 p.m. at the Jaime Benítez Park. We will have a sports activity, educational talks, an interpretive tour and opportunities to accumulate Contacto Verde or community service hours, as applicable.
The Estuario Family Day is free of charge. See more information in estuario.org/eventos.
Cine del Estuario
Cine del Estuario presents Dune: Part Two; on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at 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!
Green Infrastructure Workshop for Interpreters, Educators, and Community Leaders
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP) invites all teachers, non-formal educators, interpreter guides, and community leaders to the workshop, Green Infrastructure: Benefits for Water in the City; on Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Huerto, Vivero y Bosque Urbano de Capetillo.
As part of the workshop, we will present concepts, benefits and public policy on urban green spaces and we will take a guided tour of the Capetillo urban forest. Register today, at: estuario.org/eventos.
SJBEP joins the “CUIDA a Pe ERRE” initiative at the Choliseo
Visit the waste management station at Placita Ambiental del Choliseo and learn about the efforts of environmental and community organizations that protect the natural resources of the Island. The SJBEP will be present on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Join us and learn about reduction, reuse and recycling strategies.
We thank Sin Plástico for the invitation and the other organizations that are part of this educational effort.
Recycling Pop-Up Results
On Saturday, August 16, the SJBEP participated in the latest Recycling Pop-up in Loíza, as part of the educational component of the event, together with LimPiar, the Municipality of Loíza and TAIS. On this occasion, a total of 978 pounds of recyclable materials were recovered, including plastics, aluminum and cardboard. These items will be diverted from landfills and handled by the Puerto Rican company, IFCO Recycling. The next Pop-up will be on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Hope to see you there!
Un verano sin plástico
Summer continues in Puerto Rico!
The SJBEP invites you to continue reducing, replacing and eliminating single-use plastics. The campaign Un verano sin plástico highlights the reusable materials with which you can replace single-use plastic items, and continues to educate about Act 51-2022: Law to Prohibit the Sale and Use of Single-Use Plastics.
Remember that the materials that are prohibited in this legislation are: 1) plates, 2) glasses, 3) cups, 4) cutlery, 5) single-use plastic straws and 6) “to go” takeaway food containers. Join this initiative and enjoy your island with reusable utensils.
We thank LimPiaR, Alelí Environmental and the collaborators of AquaFest Puerto Rico, who have joined the campaign.
Urban tour in Old San Juan
On Saturday, August 9, we carried out the urban tour: Discovering the connections between the water of the city and the estuary; along with a group of citizens and estuarine volunteers in Old San Juan.
During the tour, we explored the ecosystems that are part of the landscape of the San Juan Bay, its geography, the water connection from the city to the bay, the SJBEP’s restoration and conservation efforts, and the actions we can take to contribute to the quality of our waters. Thank you to the people who joined us!
Employment Opportunities
See all the posts in estuario.org/empleos.
Employment
Request for Proposals
[Request for Proposals] Technical Support Consultant
Other Professional Services Contract Opportunities
Green Infrastructure Specialist
Artists in Residence Coordinator
Collaborative Water Quality Monitoring Network Coordinator (IIJA)
Planting of coastal vegetation
As a field experience of the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists, 12 volunteers participated in a planting of coastal vegetation in the mangrove adjacent to Los Marullos beach, in Loíza, on Saturday, August 2.
They planted more than 60 seedlings of red mangrove and black mangrove. The planting was carried out in collaboration with Vida Marina. Thank you!
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information at estuario.org/ccc. These activities count toward community service and Contacto Verde hours.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field experience: Physical-chemical sampling; Monday, August 25, at 8:30 a.m. at Lago Las Curías and Río Piedras.
Field experience: Physical-chemical sampling; Tuesday, August 26, at 9:00 a.m. at the San Juan Bay
Coastal Resilience Module
Field Experience: Coastal vegetation assessment; Friday, August 29, at 8:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Be Ready 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 begin 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 volunteer who supported the Condado Lagoon’s bacteriological evaluation of Thursday, August 21, 2025, as part of the Water Quality Monitoring module of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists. Here are the results:
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, August 21, 2025. We have a GREEN flag for the Condado Lagoon. Nevertheless, we recommend avoiding the areas that exceeded the “Beach Action Value” water quality parameter for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid the water during rain events.
