Estuary Update!
Greetings to our entire estuary community. We send you our warmest regards and hope you are well as you receive this email. We are sharing these initiatives and actions carried out week after week. These activities, tips, and information are for the benefit of all.
Tomorrow, Saturday, September 25, 2021, marks the end of National Estuary Week. We thank all the attendees, leaders, and volunteers who participated in the organized events; and we hope you enjoy the recaps, photos, and videos we've shared here.
Discover the BIOHUTS of the Estuary
Estuario inaugurated its BIOHUTS installation at the San Juan Yacht Club today, September 24, 2021. The BIOHUTS are part of the blue economy infrastructure that will enable the propagation and growth of species in this ecosystem . Read more about the project and watch videos of the event HERE.
Four years after Hurricane Maria
This week also marked the anniversary of Hurricane Maria's passage through our islands. The loss of life, urban infrastructure, and natural ecosystems underscored the need for Puerto Rican communities to be prepared for such events. This reaffirmed the paradigm that guides the actions of the San Juan Bay Estuary: we achieve the restoration and management of our waterways through the resilience and environmental justice of the communities that surround them.
We invite you to be part of the efforts to build resilient estuarine communities, including strengthening our green infrastructure and developing Puerto Rico's first Multijurisdictional Risk Mitigation Plan . Read our article HERE.
International Coastal Cleanup 2021
On Saturday, September 18, 2021, we kicked off National Estuary Week in collaboration with Scuba Dogs with the Puerto Rico International Coastal Cleanup. Once again, Estuary adopted the southeastern shore of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve for its cleanup. We thank all the volunteers who collaborated with us, Amigos de la Laguna, and the Municipality of San Juan. See the event photo gallery HERE.
Facebook Live – Talk: What is an estuary?
Harold Manrique, coordinator of the Estuary's water quality monitoring and citizen science project, gave a presentation about estuaries and their ecosystems on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. The presentation was streamed live on Facebook. It attracted 16 live viewers and has been viewed by over 500 people so far. Watch it HERE.
Tour of the County Lagoon
The Estuary's education team, Coral Avilés and Eliezer Nieves, led a hike through the La Laguna del Condado Estuarine Nature Reserve on Wednesday, September 22, 2021. The interpretive tour focused on discussing the Reserve's ecosystems . It also served as an opportunity to highlight the importance of this natural space in the context of its surrounding communities and to emphasize the need to protect the green spaces of our watershed.
Weekly water quality monitoring
Here are the results of the weekly bacteriological monitoring, carried out on Thursday, September 23, 2021. These results are also published on our Facebook page.
The lagoon remains green for recreational use. Recent rainfall has resulted in elevated enterococci levels in the eastern part of the lagoon. We recommend avoiding recreational use in areas marked with a red flag. Remember to exercise caution when swimming in natural waters following rainfall.
US Water Prize 2021 Ceremony
On Friday, September 23, 2021, the US Water Prize 2021 awards ceremony was held, where Estuario was honored in the “Outstanding Nonprofit Organization” category . Learn about the other recipients and watch the virtual ceremony broadcast yesterday, Thursday, September 23, 2021, HERE.
25 days to find Grupo Guayacán, Inc.
The Guayacán Group, Inc.'s 25 Days to Give initiative seeks to highlight organizations that have made a difference in Puerto Rico and offers a portal for donating to them. We once again thank the Guayacán Group for the opportunity provided to the Estuary within the Guayacán Venture Accelerator (AVG). Access it through their portal at https://guayacan.org/.
Message from your virtual community center
Estuario encourages you to download the Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide and use its recommendations this season. Your community's strength and resilience begin at home. This September, we continue to urge communities to recognize the risks posed by natural disasters.
[Click here to download the PDF]
We remind you that to learn about Risk Mitigation and identify the risks, conditions, and community assets in your community, you can access https://estuario.org/mitigacionderiesgos/
Take advantage of our information platform, the Estuary Virtual Community Center , where you will find vital information to prepare with your family and community.
Media coverage and publications
Torres Barreto, B. September 18, 2021. Fair climate economy. Opinion. El Nuevo Día. p.49.
Editorial Staff. September 22, 2021. Here's how you can help improve water quality and ecosystems. El Vocero. Web. https://www.elvocero.com/actualidad/otros/as-puedes-ayudar-a-mejorar-la-calidad-de-las-aguas-y-de-los-ecosistemas/article_14f17f88-1bd4-11ec-9197-8f7fa54a8df8.html
The Estuary wishes you a great weekend!
Follow us on social media, where we share information, including various virtual activities that will contribute to your personal and professional development. For any questions, please contact us at [email protected ]
The Estuary wishes you a wonderful weekend. We invite you to stay up-to-date with us through our social media channels and to register as a volunteer HERE.
The restoration and water quality management efforts in the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed are made possible by our community. Donations to the Estuary are tax-deductible in Puerto Rico and the United States.
For more information and to make a donation, visit https://estuario.org/donar/
