Estuario Weekly Update
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP) invites you to connect with nature and your estuarine community! From educational activities for the whole family in the next Family Day to opportunities to contribute to the well-being of our estuarine waters, you have multiple ways to participate, learn and support. Below, we share the upcoming volunteer initiatives, research proposals and activities of the Certification for Citizen Scientists. Explore our initiatives and join the efforts to strengthen the health of our waters.
Family Day
Join us for the next Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve, on Saturday, December 6, 2025, starting at 3:30 p.m. at the Jaime Benitez Park. We will have the following activities:
Art in the Estuary with Artist Camila Meléndez Cruz (3:30 p.m.)
An activity for the whole family! Using estuarine images and reused textiles, we will create prints with linoleum.
Bring your own reused fabric, tote bag or other type of textile that you want to give new life to. We will have the necessary materials and additional fabrics.
Botanical Tour (4:30 p.m.)
Join a botanical tour of the Reserve, where you’ll learn about the diversity of its flora and its importance to the waters of the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE).
[Contacto Verde/community service]
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Restoration of Dunes and Mangroves (5:30 p.m.)
With arborist, Andreína Alexatos. Learn how mangroves and dunes strengthen our coasts. This workshop counts towards the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists.
[Contacto Verde/community service]
The Family Day provides opportunities to accumulate Contacto Verde or community service hours, as applicable. For questions or comments, please write to us at: [email protected]. Everyone is invited. No registration is required to participate.
Giving Tuesday
Support the restoration and management of the waters connected to the SJBE. Donate to SJBEP today, in observance of the upcoming Giving Tuesday, on December 2, 2025.
Your donation will help us achieve cleaner, healthier waters for all. Any amount is appreciated.
See the different ways you can contribute, at: https://estuario.org/donar.
Meeting for Friends of the Condado Lagoon
Don’t miss the next meeting of Amigos de la Laguna, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Jaime Benítez Park of the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve, with virtual space through Zoom.
Everyone is invited. To receive your virtual access link, sign up at: estuario.org/eventos.
Call for Research Proposals—Estuario Fellowship for Graduate Students
SJBEP will offer a scholarship for graduate students to develop and carry out studies aimed at understanding and addressing the complex problems identified at the Juan Méndez Creek, in San Juan. Interested parties are encouraged to focus their research proposals on topics related to ecosystem analysis, innovative problem-solving strategies, and community outreach.
The deadline is December 15, 2025. The period is six months. The scholarship is $10,000 for master’s students, $15,000 for doctoral students. More information is available here.
Employment Opportunity
Professional Services Contract Opportunities
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists workshops and field experiences count toward Contacto Verde or community service hours. See more information at: estuario.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Bacteriological monitoring; Tuesday, December 9, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, Dec. 11, at 9:30 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Physical-chemical parameters; Thursday, December 11, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Field Experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; Monday, Dec. 15, at 8:30 a.m. at Lago Las Curías and Río Piedras
Field Experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; Tuesday, December 16, at 9:00 a.m. at the San Juan Bay
Field Experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; on Wednesday, December 17, at 8:00 a.m. at Laguna San José/Torrecilla
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, Dec. 18, at 9:30 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Characterization and Reduction of Microplastics
Workshop on Characterization and Reduction of Microplastics; Tuesday, December 2, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Microplastic Characterization and Reduction field experience; Saturday, December 6, at 9:00 a.m. Location to be announced
Coastal Resilience
Field experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Saturday, November 29, at 8:00 a.m. in Piñones
Field Experience: Seed and plant propagation; on Sunday, November 30, at 8:00 a.m. at Centro TAU, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; Thursday, December 4, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Field Experience: Seed and plant propagation; on Sunday, December 14, at 8:00 a.m. at TAU Center, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; Tuesday, December 16, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Field experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Saturday, December 20, at 8:00 a.m. in Piñones
Media coverage
Brenda Torres Barreto. November 21, 2025. El reto de una economía libre de riesgos. Opinión. El Nuevo Día. p.39.
Prepare for Hurricane Seasons
As the 2025 hurricane season ends, the SJBEP invites you to begin your preparation for the year ahead. Download the Estuario Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide and follow its recommendations. The strength and resilience of your community start 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 Wednesday, November 26, 2025. We have a GREEN flag for the Condado Lagoon. 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.
