Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the Estuary! This week, the Estuary invites you to add your voice and action to the protection of our waters. Discover tools for documenting restoration and conservation projects, participate in workshops and field experiences, and continue reducing single-use plastics. See more information below.
Document your habitat restoration and conservation project
Each year, the Estuary documents the habitat restoration and conservation efforts implemented by different sectors within the San Juan Bay estuary watershed. In doing so, we recognize the progress made in restoring and conserving our habitats and gather valuable information to support public investment in the region.
If your community, organization, or agency implemented a habitat restoration or conservation project (planting, cleaning, or other), access: estuary.org/habitat-projects to document and acknowledge it, before Tuesday, August 26, 2025.
Workshop for interpreters, educators and community leaders
The Estuary invites everyone teachers, non-formal educators, interpreter guides and community leaders to the workshop, Green Infrastructure: benefits for water in the city; on Saturday, August 23, 2025, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Capetillo Urban Garden, Nursery and Forest.
As part of the workshop, we will present concepts, benefits, and public policy regarding urban green spaces and conduct a guided tour of the Capetillo Urban Garden, Nursery, and Forest. Register today at: estuary.org/events.
Pop-up Recycling in Pine Nuts
Dispose of your recyclables correctly! Take advantage of the LimPiaR Recycling Pop-up on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at Miguel Fuentes Pinet Park in Loíza.
Visit our information table, where you will learn how to properly handle used vegetable oil and the options you have to prevent it from affecting water infrastructure and natural resources.
Don't forget to bring your rinsed recyclables. We will accept #1, #2, and #5 plastics, aluminum and tin cans, and corrugated cardboard (matte finish). We thank LimPiaR for the invitation and follow-up on this event. This collaboration is part of the community campaign: Leave a clean footprint in Piñones.
A summer without plastic
Summer never ends in Puerto Rico! The Estuary invites you to continue reducing, replacing, and eliminating single-use plastics through the campaign: A summer without plastic.
Through this effort, we continue to educate about the Law 51-2022: Law to prohibit the sale and use of single-use plastics.
Remember that the materials prohibited under this legislation are: 1) plates, 2) glasses, 3) cups, 4) cutlery, 5) single-use plastic straws, and 6) takeaway food containers. “to go”.
Enjoy your island with reusable utensils.
Banco Popular interns join the mangrove restoration effort
As part of the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification, 17 participants from the Banco Popular Interns program carried out a day of training and fieldwork alongside the Estuary.
The experience included a workshop on the ecological function of dunes and mangroves, maintenance work at the TAU Center's Estuary Nursery, transplanting button mangrove, black mangrove and sea bean, and collecting sea grape seeds and plants at Playa Piñones.
They also carried out a cleanup of the area and processed red mangrove propagules for future planting. Thanks to these volunteers for their community action and for protecting our coasts, and to Robmarie Erazo Molina for her leadership.
Job/Contract Opportunities
Below are the available places. See all tickets at estuary.org/jobs.
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information at estuary.org/cccThese activities count towards community service hours and Green Contact hours.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, August 21, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Field experience: Physical-chemical sampling; Monday, August 25, at 8:30 am at Lake Las Curías and the Piedras River
Field Experience: Physical-Chemical Sampling; Tuesday, August 26, at 9:00 am in San Juan Bay
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Field experience; Friday, August 22, at 9:00 am (location to be announced)
Coastal Resilience Module
Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; on Thursday, August 21, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Planting Coastal Vegetation; Saturday, August 23, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, August 23, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, August 23, at 12:00 pm at County Lagoon
Field Experience: Coastal Vegetation Assessment; Friday, August 29, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
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
Thanks to the volunteers who supported the bacteriological monitoring on Thursday, August 14, 2025, as part of the Water Quality Monitoring module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification. The results are below.
Assessment conducted on Thursday, August 14, 2025. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. We recommend avoiding areas where monitoring stations exceeded the "Beach Action Value" water quality parameter for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid the water during rain events.
