Estuario Weekly Update
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP) continues providing spaces to learn, enjoy and contribute to the conservation of the ecosystems connected to the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE). This week you’ll find family-friendly activities, new volunteer opportunities, environmental celebrations, and more ways to join the collective effort for the quality of our waters and the resilience of our communities.
Family Day
The Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Natural Reserve is here! Celebrate with us the Greater Caribbean Manatee Day, this Saturday, September 6, 2025, starting at 3:00 p.m. at Jaime Benítez Park. We’ll have activities for the whole family: an interpretive tour, educational talks, and opportunities to accumulate Contacto Verde or community service hours, as applicable. See more information, at 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!
Join us for National Estuaries Week
From Saturday, September 20 to Saturday, September 27, 2025, the SJBEP joins the National Estuaries Week celebration. We have a packed agenda of activities, including training workshops, volunteer opportunities, and educational experiences for everyone.
The week will culminate with the event Exploring the Estuary: Documentation of Biodiversity in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. Remember to sign up for the biodiversity documentation workshop (Tuesday, September 23rd), where you will learn how to use the iNaturalist application, and one of the workshops corresponding to the group of your choice (aquatic life, terrestrial life, plants). Don’t miss this opportunity for discovery and learning!
View scheduled activities on estuario.org/eventos and register today. There will be opportunities to accumulate Contacto Verde or community service hours, as applicable.
International Coastal Cleanup 2025
The SJBEP joins the Scuba Dogs Society once more as captain at the International Coastal Cleanup crew at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Natural Reserve, on Saturday, September 20, 2025.
With this event, we will be kicking off the celebration of National Estuaries Week. Join us! Register here to participate in the cleanup of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Natural Reserve with us.
Estuario Artist in Residence 2025: Antonio Martorell y sus Amigos
This year, the SJBEP’s Artistic Residency invites us to embark on a journey of collective creation, environmental memory and community transformation, together with maestro Antonio Martorell y sus Amigos. This is the SJBEP’s seventh artist-in-residence.
The proposal of maestro Martorell y sus Amigos seeks to generate environmental awareness about the importance of the water quality of the rivers, streams, lagoons, swamps and bays that form the SJBE system, through the communities of the region.
See more information in estuario.org/artistasresidentes.
Employment Opportunities
Full Time Employment Opportunity
Request for Proposals
[Request for Proposals] Technical Support Consultant
Other opportunities for professional services contract
Green Infrastructure Specialist
Collaborative Water Quality Monitoring Network Coordinator (IIJA)
CINA 4071 course at UPR-RP begins
On Tuesday, September 2, 2025, the CINA 4071 course, at the University of Puerto Rico Río Piedras Campus, began with a talk on the SJBE, the SJBEP’s efforts to restore and conserve water quality, and the focus on resilience-based restoration.
During this semester, undergraduate students will be participating in a variety of talks and workshops that will provide them with the tools and knowledge to not only support the efforts of the SJBEP, but also to develop as professionals in the environmental field.
Estuario present at Placita Ambiental del Choli
Last Friday, August 29, the SJBEP joined the CUIDA a Pe ERRe initiative, at Placita Ambiental of Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, during Bad Bunny’s Residency.
We supported the waste management station, promoted reduction, reuse, and recycling strategies, and educated visitors about the Estuary’s opportunities and initiatives.
Thanks to our friends at Sin Plástico for the invitation, and the other organizations present that continue this educational effort during this musical and cultural experience.
Estuario Conducts Microplastics Evaluation
Last Friday, August 22, 2025, we carried out the most recent field experience of the Microplastic Characterization and Reduction module of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists. We thank Iván Santiago, Dolly García, Yessenia Donato and Angel Rojas, for joining us to identify and collect microplastics from the estuarine water bodies.
Stay tuned for upcoming workshops and field trips through our website, social networks and Weekly Update.
Mangroves planted in the Condado Lagoon
The SJBEP carried out a field experience at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Natural Reserve, as part of the Coastal Resilience module of the Certification for Citizen Scientists.
Fifteen volunteers planted around 278 coastal trees, including red mangrove, black mangrove, white mangrove and other native species, around San Gerónimo beach. The day also included feedback on past plantings, confirming good survival of mangroves in the area. Thanks to the volunteers who joined us!
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.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Workshop: Bacteriological monitoring; Thursday, September 11, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Coastal Resilience Module
Workshop: Ecological assessment of coral reefs and seagrasses; Tuesday, September 9, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Field Experience: Seed collection; on Thursday, September 11, at 8:00 a.m. at Caño Martín Peña
Field Experience: Seed and plant propagation; Friday, September 12, at 8:00 a.m. in Loíza
Field Experience: Ecological assessment of coral reefs; Saturday, September 13, at 8:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological assessment of seagrasses; Saturday, September 13, at 12:00 p.m. at the Condado Lagoon
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 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
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, September 4, 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.
