Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the estuary! Below, we share opportunities for collaboration, training, and scheduled events to benefit the ecosystems and communities of the San Juan Bay estuary.
National Estuaries Week
National Estuary Week is almost here! From Saturday, September 21st to Saturday, September 28th, We will be celebrating the environmental, economic, and social importance of our estuarine ecosystem.
We have multiple activities planned where you'll learn about the region's biodiversity, actions to strengthen it against climate change, and how to assess and improve water quality. Sign up today! estuary.org/events
Saturday, 21
International Coastal Cleanup at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve (8am-12pm)
Sunday, 22
Field Experience: Participatory Bird Census at the UPR Botanical Garden, Río Piedras (7-10am)
Monday, 23
Field Experience: Water Quality Monitoring in Las Curías and Río Piedras (9am-12pm)
Introductory Workshop: Coastal Resilience [via zoom] (5-6pm)
Workshop on Illegal Discharges – Let's Protect Our Waters: Identifying and Reporting Illegal Discharges [via Zoom] (7-8pm)
Tuesday, 24
Field Experience: Planting of coastal vegetation at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve (8-11am)
Field Experience: Water Quality Monitoring in San Juan Bay (9-12pm)
Thematic Workshop: Ecological assessment of coral reefs and seagrasses [via Zoom] (5-6pm)
Workshop: Documenting the biodiversity of the Laguna del Condado Estuarine Nature Reserve [via Zoom] (7-8pm)
Wednesday, 25
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve (8-11am)
Field Experience: Water Quality Monitoring at Laguna San José/Torrecilla (9-12pm)
Workshop: Getting to know the aquatic life of the County Lagoon [via Zoom] (7-8pm)
Thursday, 26
Field Experience: Bacteriological monitoring of water quality at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve (9am-12pm)
Field Experience: Ecological assessment of coral reefs at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve (8-11am)
Thematic Workshop: Coastal restoration of dunes and mangroves [via Zoom] (5-6pm)
Workshop: Common Trees of the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve [via Zoom] (7-8pm)
Friday, 27
Field Experience: Characterization and reduction of microplastics at Laguna San José/Torrecilla (9-11am)
Workshop: Birds of the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve [via Zoom] (7-8pm)
Saturday, 28
Events can count for hours of Green Contact or community service, as applicable. See more details at estuary.org/events.
Estuary Summit 2024
La Estuary Summit 2024 It seeks to promote the integration and collaboration of diverse experts and stakeholders in the restoration and conservation efforts of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Multiple research findings will be presented on topics such as water quality, biodiversity, microbiology, and governance, which will include The Condition of the Estuary, document that describes the condition of different ecological and social aspects of the region's watershed.
The Estuary Summit 2024 will take place on Monday 2, Wednesday 3 and Thursday 4 December 2024, From 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the theater of the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico in Hato Rey.
Your participation will be key to boosting the restoration and conservation efforts of this ecosystem. Register today, HERE.
Family Day Trip to the Estuarine Nature Reserve of the County Lagoon
On Saturday, September 7, 2024, Caribbean Manatee Conservation Day in Puerto Rico, we held our most recent Family Day Out at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. We were joined by several Girl Scout troops, who developed and supported activities throughout the day. We began at 2:00 pm with a scavenger hunt in the Reserve.
At 4 p.m., Yabriel Pagán and Mariellie Pérez, from the Manatee Conservation Center, They provided us with an educational talk, entitled The manatee of the greater Caribbean: treasure of the Condado Lagoon. At 5:00 pm, Girl Scout Jomaris Ramos López gave the following talk to the public: Mangroves in danger: a call for conservation. Later, the audience was treated to a reading of the book. Carlitos the little snail wants to hear the sea; with the writer, Gabriela Joglar Burrowes.
At the end of the evening, it was not possible to hold the Estuary Cinema screening. The next screening will be on Saturday, October 5th.
We are immensely grateful to the Manatee Conservation Center and to Yabriel and Mariellie for sharing their knowledge; to Jomaris Ramos López, the Girl Scouts of Troop 311, and their leader Evelmarie López for their collaboration; to the writer Gabriela Joglar Burrowes for a beautiful reading; and to María Meléndez of Pizzeria 188 and the Municipality of San Juan for their continued support. Until next time!
Celebrating shorebirds in the estuary
Yaboas, sandpipers, little guans and a lesser guineafowl were sighted last Friday, September 6, during the global celebration and monitoring of shorebirds in the Blasina Canal, between Carolina and Loíza.
The Estuary, in collaboration with the Carolina Children's Museum, conducted a census of waterfowl, helping to document the presence of birds in this region and demonstrating the health of this ecosystem.
Citizen Scientist Certification
The following are the upcoming scheduled events. See more events at: estuary.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring Module:
Field Experience; on Thursday, September 19, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the County Lagoon, with Rebeca Rivera, monitoring coordinator
Coastal Resilience Module:
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral ReefsOn Sunday, September 15, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am at the County Lagoon, with Daritzel Cintrón, marine biologist
Introductory WorkshopOn Thursday, September 19, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom, with Andreína Alexatos
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of SeagrassesOn Sunday, September 29, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am at the County Lagoon, with Daritzel Cintrón
Job opportunities
Stakeholder and Engagement Coordinator— The Stakeholder and Engagement Coordinator supports Estuario's role as a regional convener, catalyst, and facilitator to restore and maintain clean waters that support thriving ecosystems, healthy communities, and a vibrant ecosystem in the San Juan Bay Estuary and its urbanized watershed.
[Download your free copy] San Juan Bay Estuary: History and Research Opportunities
The Estuary is pleased to share its 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 free printed copy, please contact us at 787-725-8165.
Prepare yourself this hurricane season
Get ready for this hurricane season. Download the Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide of the Estuary and follow its recommendations. The strength and resilience of your community begins in your home.
Also visit the Virtual Estuary Community Centerwhere you will find vital information, such as relevant emergency numbers and instructions for preparing emergency backpacks.
Don't panic! Get ready.
Weekly Bacteriological Monitoring
Assessment conducted on Thursday, September 12, 2024. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. One station exceeded the water quality parameter for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 mL. We recommend avoiding the area. Remember to avoid the water after rain events.
