Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the estuary! Below are the events, opportunities, and initiatives undertaken to benefit the ecosystems and communities of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Family day out at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve
On Saturday, July 13, 2024, don't miss the next family estuarine day out at the Jaime Benítez Park in the Laguna del Condado Estuarine Nature Reserve.
Starting at 2:00 pm, there will be a land cleanup at the lagoon, a family soccer game, the educational talk: Mangroves in danger, a call for conservation, an ethnobotanical walk, and Estuary Cinema, with a showing of The Flash, at 7:00 pm
Don't miss it! See more information at estuary.org/events.
Meeting of the Estuary Citizens' Advisory Committee
The next meeting of the San Juan Bay Estuary Citizens Advisory Committee will be held this Wednesday, July 17, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm virtually, via Microsoft Teams.
We invite all residents and friends of the Estuary. To participate, register at estuary.org/events.
Educational workshop on the Laguna del Condado Estuarine Nature Reserve for tour operators
The event coordination and citizen participation team of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve invites all tourism operators to an educational workshop about the Reserve, on Thursday, July 18, 2024, from 6:00 pm to 7:00 pm in the Blue Lagoon Event Hall of Jaime Benítez Park.
Learn about the natural value of the reserve and its importance to tourism in the region. The workshop will be led by marine biologist Daritzel Cintrón and botanist Mario García. Register today at estuary.org/events.
More adventures from the 3E boarding school group
On Monday, June 24, students from the 3E Program (Examine + Explore + Expand) internship at the University of Puerto Rico Rio Piedras Campus visited the upper part of the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed, in the Chiclana Creek in Caimito.
Don Juan Cruz welcomed the group into his home, where he spoke with them about the history of the ravine and the efforts of environmental leader Haydeé Colón in restoring this natural treasure. Afterward, the group walked along the ravine in search of birds. For several, it was the first time they had seen the Puerto Rican San Pedrito and heard the song of the Puerto Rican booby.
We thank Don Juan for his commitment to the conservation of our natural resources and for always being a guardian and defender of the Chiclana Ravine, part of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Vegetable oil handling workshops
Last week, students participating in the waste management education and awareness internship with the Estuary continued their tour of workshops on the proper disposal of used cooking oil around the municipalities of the San Juan Bay Estuary. On Tuesday, July 2, they were in the Municipality of Toa Baja, where 15 people participated in the activity.
On Monday, July 8, the students visited the summer camp at the Las Cucharillas Community Center in the Municipality of Cataño.
On this occasion, nine children aged between 3-12 years learned firsthand about the importance of properly handling vegetable oil and protecting the quality of our water.
They visualized how the gray infrastructure works in their community, using the Enviroscape model, a loan from the Compliance and Planning Office of the Municipality of San Juan.
Disaster debris management planning workshop
The Estuary participated in the workshop: Planning for the management of debris from disasters, offered by Sea Grant at the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico, last Tuesday, July 2.
A total of 43 people participated in this workshop, including private companies, municipalities and NGOs.
#PlasticFreeJuly
Let's celebrate a plastic-free July. Follow the San Juan Bay Estuary's tips on actions you can take to reduce your use of single-use plastics.
This week: use reusable cups and bottles.
Learn more ways to reduce your plastic footprint, information about Law 51-2022— Law for the prohibition of single-use plastics in Puerto Rico; and the actions of the San Juan Bay Estuary for the responsible management of waste, at: estuario.org/desechos-acuaticos.
Exhibition: 45 women who move the Caribbean
We are immensely pleased to see the executive director of the Estuary, Brenda Torres Barreto, highlighted as one of the 45 women who move the Caribbean , an exhibition created by L'Oréal Caribbean.
The exhibition highlights 45 Caribbean women with illustrious careers in the fields of entrepreneurship, social responsibility, sustainability, innovation and technology, art and culture, communications, sports, diversity and inclusion, and education.
It will be open to the public at The Mall of San Juan from July 11 to 25 and at San Patricio Plaza from July 27 to August 26. Learn about the 45 outstanding women and their careers at https://mujeresquemuevenelcaribe.com
Download your free copy—San Juan Bay Estuary: History and Research Opportunities
The Estuary is pleased to share the recent publication, San Juan Bay Estuary: History and Research Opportunities ; by Ariel E. Lugo and Jorge F. Bauzá Ortega.
This comprehensive document includes valuable information on research conducted in the estuarine system, calling for these observations, findings, and conclusions to be added to in potential future research.
To arrange for the pickup of a printed copy, also free of charge, contact us at 787-725-8165.
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the workshops and field experiences for the coming weeks. See more information at estuary.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring Module:
Coastal Resilience Module:
Planting of coastal vegetation
On Saturday, June 29, we carried out a coastal vegetation planting at Secret Spot, Isabela, in collaboration with Surfrider Puerto Rico. Approximately 31 volunteers planted over 500 specimens of various species in the area.
The planting counted as a field experience for the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuary's citizen scientist certification.
Job opportunities
Support for Community Partnerships – Federal Urban Waters Partnership — The San Juan Bay Estuary is seeking qualified applicants to provide support for community partnerships with the Ambassador of the Federal Urban Waters Partnership, who is supporting the implementation of the Caño Martín Peña Ecosystem Restoration Project.
Accountant —The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership, also known as the Estuary, is seeking qualified applications for an Accountant to join our highly skilled team for projects receiving funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The ideal candidate performs a variety of tasks related to budget preparation and maintenance of grant budgets.
Resident Artists of the Estuary – Request for Proposal — The Estuary seeks to select artistic proposals that support the restoration work of the Juan Méndez ravine.
Media coverage
July 11, 2024. 45 Women Who Move the Caribbean Are Honored. Ey Boricua. Web. https://eyboricua.com/comunidad/homenajean-a-45-mujeres-que-mueven-el-caribe/
Prepare yourself this hurricane season
Prepare for this hurricane season. Download the Estuary Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide and follow its recommendations. Your community's strength and resilience begin 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, July 11, 2024. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. One station in the coastal area exceeded the water quality standard for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 mL; we recommend avoiding this area. Have a good weekend.
