Weekly Estuary Update
Citizen Science Month continues in full force in the Estuary. Just days away from the eighteenth annual Puerto Rico Water Quality Day, we're sharing numerous opportunities to take action, from turning your refund into direct support for conservation to participating in citizen science experiences, family activities, and educational community events. Every action counts! Keep reading and find your way to contribute.
Support the Estuary with your Refund
This tax season, consider donating part of your refund to conservation and management efforts for the waters and ecosystems connected to the San Juan Bay estuary.
Look for the option “Contribution to the Special Fund for the San Juan Bay Estuary”which you will find in the box “Refund” on page 1 of your form.
This method is possible thanks to Law 48 of 2009, which establishes the Special Fund for the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Learn about the different ways to donate to the Estuary at: estuary.org/donate.
Puerto Rico Water Quality Day
Eight days to go! On Saturday, April 18, 2026, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, you will assess and collect data on the water quality of rivers, streams, lagoons, reservoirs, and beaches near you, as part of the eighteenth Puerto Rico Water Quality Day.
If you haven't signed up yet, now's the time. Create your group, choose your body of water, and register today at estuary.org/waterqualityday.
Family day out at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve
Celebrate Puerto Rico's 18th Annual Water Quality Day with the Estuary! Join us for the next Family Day Out at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve on Saturday, April 18, 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m. at Jaime Benítez Park. See the schedule of activities at [website address missing]. estuary.org/events.
Several activities will count toward accumulating Green Contact hours or community service, as applicable. Registration is not required. For any questions or comments, please write to us at: [email protected].
Estuary Cinema
Estuary Cinema presents: A Minecraft Movie; Saturday, April 18, 2026, at 7:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. This screening is free. Bring your blanket or chair!
5K Estuary in the Botanical Garden
Join a race like no other, held entirely within the grounds of the Río Piedras Botanical Garden. We have an updated route, perfect for runners and walkers of all levels. You'll traverse trails, admiring streams and lakes, listening to birdsong, and enjoying the shade of centuries-old native trees. There will be a 1K segment for children. The kids will have fun at their own pace!
The second edition of the Estuary 5K will be on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 7:00 am at the Rio Piedras Botanical Garden in San Juan.
The Estuary 5K is carried out with the endorsement and close collaboration of the Botanical Garden of the University of Puerto Rico.
We are looking for adult volunteers for the Estuary 5K.
There are still spaces available for volunteers. adults (18 years and older) to support the Estuary 5K race at the Botanical Garden, from 6:00 am to 10:00 am on May 17, 2026. Event volunteers will receive a t-shirt and have reserved parking at the DRNA building, steps from the event. They will be required to attend a virtual orientation meeting via Zoom, which we will announce later.
Sign up as a volunteer for the Estuary 5K, en estuary.org/events.
Actions for the reduction of aquatic waste
In the watershed of the San Juan Bay estuary.
This Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 6:30 pm at Taller Comunidad La Goyco, Cinema Paradiso and LimPiaR present the documentary Microplastic Madness: Brooklyn kids take on plastic pollution. This initiative by Cafetería Cultura, a New York-based non-profit organization, presents the plastic pollution crisis at both local and global levels through the perspective of middle school students in Brooklyn. The documentary will be in English with Spanish subtitles. Estuario will participate in the film forum (discussion) following the screening.
Join us and learn about the efforts of the community campaign, It should not touch the floor or reach the water, and the environmental efforts carried out by Taller Comunidad La Goyco.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Opportunities for professional services contracts
Strengthening our coasts
At the end of March, we carried out several actions to strengthen coastal ecosystems connected to the San Juan Bay estuary, as part of the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification.
Sowing in County (March 22)
Despite the rain, three university students participated in a planting day at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, where they planted 10 seedlings of red, white, and black mangrove. The experience included an educational tour about restoration efforts in the area and the key role of mangroves in mitigating erosion.
Maintenance and propagation at Estuary Nursery (March 27)
Four volunteers joined essential tasks at the Estuary Nursery in Centro TAU, Loíza, including transplanting white mangrove seedlings and propagating red mangrove. During the day, they also carried out cleaning and maintenance tasks, strengthening the processes that support coastal restoration projects.
Mass planting in County (March 28)
As the culmination of this series of efforts, 15 volunteers from the SEPA-UPR group carried out a large-scale planting in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, establishing approximately 206 red and black mangrove seedlings in areas affected by erosion. This intervention aims to strengthen coastal vegetation cover in the area and directly contributes to the resilience of this ecosystem.
Each of these experiences contributed to the same goals: to restore, protect, and learn through action. We appreciate the commitment of the citizen scientists of the Estuary!
See more workshops and field experiences from the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification below.
Media coverage
April 6, 2026. Water Quality Day. Today is Puerto Rico Day. Telemundo Puerto Rico. Web: https://youtu.be/RgRaEGVfVBc
April 8, 2026. San Juan Bay Estuary invites you to participate in Water Quality Day. Science and Environment. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/ciencia-ambiente/otros/notas/estuario-de-la-bahia-de-san-juan-invita-a-participar-en-el-dia-de-calidad-de-agua/
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. Remember that all workshops and field experiences count toward Green Contact hours or community service. See more information at [website address]. estuary.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field experience: Bacteriological monitoring; on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at 9:30 am at the County Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Physical-Chemical Parameters; on Thursday, April 16th, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; on Monday, April 20, at 8:30 am at Lake Las Curías and the Piedras River
Field experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; on Tuesday, April 21, at 9:00 am in San Juan Bay
Field experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; on Wednesday, April 22, at 8:00 am at Laguna San José/Torrecilla
Field experience: Bacteriological monitoring; on Thursday, April 23, at 9:30 am at the County Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience; on Saturday, April 25, at 7:00 am at the Río Piedras Botanical Garden
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Workshop; on Tuesday, April 21, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrasses; on Tuesday, April 14th, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience: Seed collection; on Friday, April 17, at 8:00 am in Hato Rey
Field experience: Ecological assessment of coral reefs; on Saturday, April 18, at 8:00 am at the County Lagoon
Field experience: Ecological assessment of seagrasses; on Saturday, April 18, at 12:00 pm at the County Lagoon
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; on Thursday, April 23, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience: Seed propagation; on Sunday, April 26, at 8:00 am at Vivero Estuario in Centro TAU, Loíza
Weekly bacteriological monitoring
Assessment conducted on Thursday, April 9, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. Several stations exceeded the "Beach Action Value" water quality parameter for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 mL. We recommend avoiding these areas. Remember to avoid the water during rain events. Have a good weekend.
