Weekly Estuary Update
National Estuary Week is coming! From September 20-26, we'll be commemorating the importance of these vital and diverse ecosystems with learning and action activities focused on the conservation and management of the waters connected to the San Juan Bay estuary. Read on for more details.
International Coastal Cleanup 2026
In the lead-up to National Estuary Week, the San Juan Bay Estuary joins the 2026 International Coastal Cleanup , organized by Scuba Dogs Society, on Saturday, September 19 , from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. As captains of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve , we will conduct a land cleanup in the Reserve and an underwater cleanup in the Lagoon.
Join one of our groups! Sign up for the land cleanup at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, HERE.
To be part of the underwater cleanup led by the Estuary, sign up HERE.
Educational Fair
While we carry out clean-up activities in the Reserve, we will have an educational fair in celebration of National Estuary Week, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm on the grounds of Jaime Benítez Park.
There will be multiple educational stations, where you will learn about the ecosystems connected to the San Juan Bay estuary, its biodiversity, and the actions we take to restore and manage the health of the waters that are part of the watershed.
Estuary Cinema
Estuary Cinema presents: Lilo & Stitch (2025) , in a special screening as a prelude to National Estuary Week, on Saturday, September 19, from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. Bring your chair and snacks. This screening is free.
National Estuaries Week
Join us to celebrate National Estuary Week! From Sunday, September 20th to Saturday, September 26th, we have a packed schedule of activities and events, including field experiences such as bird censuses, coastal vegetation planting and water quality monitoring, tours, workshops and more.
Row with the estuary
On Sunday, September 20, we kicked off National Estuary Week with the event, Paddle with the Estuary ; a morning of connecting with nature at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
We'll be holding educational activities about the importance of water health at Jaime Benítez Park. Bring your kayak or paddleboard and paddle with us from 9:00 am to 11:00 am! The meeting point for participants with kayaks/paddleboards will be Jaime Benítez Park.
If you don't have a kayak or paddleboard, you can rent one from Night Kayak , San Juan Paddleboarding , or SUP Action Paddleboard, Co. , while supplies last:
Night Kayak – Advance reservation required. Guided eco-tour in a tandem clear kayak (for two people), approximately one (1) hour long, starting at 9:30 a.m. Guides share information about the estuary, local marine life, and the surrounding ecosystem. Includes photos. Book with Night Kayak HERE . Get a 20% discount using code Estuario20 . Location: 1014 Ashford Ave, San Juan, PR 00907.
San Juan Paddleboard – Walk-in rentals available. Photo ID required to rent equipment. $25 per person for two (2) hours of free use on the RNELC. $5 discount available when you mention you'll be participating in the Paddle with the Estuary event . Location: FW3F+RFX, Román Baldorioty de Castro Expressway, San Juan, PR 00907.
SUP Action Paddleboard Co. – Advance reservation preferred. $25 per person (10 years of age or older) for two (2) hours of free use on the RNELC. Book with SUP Action Paddleboard Co. HERE . Location: Avenida Fernandez Juncos, San Juan Bay Marina Local #2, San Juan, PR 00902.
Celebrate with the Estuary from anywhere on the Island! If you're paddling on any other body of water on Sunday, September 20, share your photo on your favorite social network and tag us (@estuariosanjuan).
Exploring the estuary
On Saturday, September 26 , we're wrapping up National Estuary Week with Exploring the Estuary , a biodiversity documentation event at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. We'll be documenting plants, terrestrial life, birds, marine life, and nocturnal wildlife using the iNaturalist mobile app . Choose one of the groups:
Bird documentation [7:00 am to 9:00 am]
Marine Life Documentation [8:00 am to 10:00 am]
Documentation of plants and terrestrial life [8:00 am to 10:00 am]
Documentation of plants and terrestrial life [10:00 am to 12:00 pm]
Documentation of plants and terrestrial life [2:00 pm to 4:00 pm]
Bird Documentation [4:00 pm to 6:00 pm]
Documentation of nocturnal fauna [6:00 pm to 9:00 pm]
In preparation for the event, we will be holding training workshops throughout the week where you will learn how to identify the species that inhabit the Reserve, as well as how to use the iNaturalist app. The workshops will be provided virtually, via Zoom, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
September 21 – Getting to know the plants of the Reserve
September 22 – Getting to know the terrestrial life of the Reserve
September 23 – Getting to know the aquatic life of the Reserve
September 24 – Documenting the biodiversity of the Reserve (with iNaturalist)
Don't miss out! Documentation activities, like workshops, count towards Green Contact hours or community service. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.
See the full schedule of events for the week and register today at: estuary.org/events.
Presentation and closing discussion: The estuary is not still
Join us for the closing event and celebration of the Antonio Martorell and Friends Estuary artist residency , on Friday, September 25, 2026 , from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, at the Puerto Rico Museum of Art.
During this special evening, we will premiere the documentary and present the book that chronicles the process and experiences of this artistic residency, along with a discussion with some of its participants. We will close the evening with a cocktail reception to celebrate the culmination of this project and the encounter between art, communities, and the Estuary.
The event is open to the public, but space is limited. To participate, please complete the RSVP form.
Help us document restoration and conservation efforts in the estuary watershed
Each year, we document habitat restoration and conservation efforts implemented within the San Juan Bay estuary watershed. In doing so, we gather valuable information to support public investment in the region.
We urge all communities, organizations, or agencies that carry out restoration and conservation projects in the region to submit their projects corresponding to the period from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, including pending projects.
These projects are reported to the EPA and Congress. The form must be completed by September 30, 2026. We thank all the entities that are part of this effort. Access the form: HERE.
Opportunities for professional services contracts
Scouts earn Plant Study merit badge
On Saturday, August 22, 2026, a group of scouts from Troop 685 of Puerto Nuevo participated in a workshop to complete the requirements for the Plant Study merit badge, at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
During the activity, the scouts reviewed the badge requirements, walked through the reserve to identify and collect plants, mounted several displays, and shared an interesting dialogue with Mario García Quesada, a certified botanist and arborist, Coral Avilés Santiago, an environmental scientist, and Eliezer Nieves-Rodríguez, a geographer and volunteer merit badge instructor for Scouting America.
We thank the leaders of Unit 685 for their commitment and interest in strengthening the bond between Puerto Rico's Scouts and nature, particularly the Estuary, through educational experiences and contact with our natural environment. Congratulations!
They are propagating seeds in Loíza
On Saturday, August 22, seven volunteers processed seeds and seedlings of coastal vegetation at the Estuary Nursery of Centro TAU in Loíza. In addition to transplanting seeds for future plantings, the participants performed maintenance tasks at the nursery, including cleaning and weeding the grounds.
This activity served as a field experience for the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification. It provided instruction on the steps for propagating various coastal plants. Thank you to all participants for their time and commitment. See more activities from the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification below.
Citizen Scientist Certification
Here are the activities for the coming weeks. Remember that workshops and field experiences count toward Green Contact hours or community service. Minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately. See all activities at: estuary.org/events
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field Experiences: Physical-Chemical Monitoring; Monday, September 14, at 8:30 am in Las Curías and Río Piedras
Field Experiences: Physical-Chemical Monitoring; Tuesday, September 15, at 9:00 am in San Juan Bay
Field Experiences: Physical-Chemical Monitoring; Wednesday, September 16, at 8:00 am in Laguna San José/La Torrecilla
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, September 17, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, September 24, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Participatory Bird Census Workshop ; Tuesday, September 15, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience; Sunday, September 20, at 7:00 am at the Río Piedras Botanical Garden
Coastal Resilience Module
Field experience: Seed collection; Sunday, September 13, at 8:00 am in Hato Rey
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Dunes and Mangroves ; Thursday, September 17, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, September 19, at 12:00 pm at County Lagoon
Field experience: Propagation of coastal vegetation; Sunday, September 20, at 8:00 am in Loíza
Field Experience: Planting Coastal Vegetation; Saturday, September 26, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
Prepare yourself this hurricane season
This 2026 hurricane season, the San Juan Bay Estuary urges you to be prepared. Download the Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide and follow its recommendations. Protecting your community starts at home.
Also visit the Estuary Virtual Community Center , where you'll find vital information, such as relevant emergency numbers and instructions for preparing emergency kits.
Don't panic! Get ready.
Weekly bacteriological monitoring
Assessment conducted on Thursday, September 10, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. We recommend avoiding 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. Have a good weekend.
