Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the estuary! Below, we share the events, activities, and initiatives planned to benefit the ecosystems and communities of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Complete your citizen scientist certification in the Estuary Coastal Resilience Module
Gain the training you need to help strengthen coastal regions in your community. See available events in the Coastal Resilience module and sign up today. estuary.org/cccWe add new events regularly.
The Coastal Resilience module covers the topics of Coral Reef Assessment, Seagrass Assessment, and Coastal Restoration of Dunes and Mangroves.
If you are one of the citizen scientists who have participated in the workshops and field trips related to the Coastal Resilience module, the Estuary encourages you to continue your certification. For any questions, or to check your certification status, please write to us at: [email protected]The certification is free of charge.
Workshop on identifying and eliminating illegal internet connections on Loíza Street
Did you know that illegal downloads can directly affect your beaches? Learn how, with this educational talk. Let's protect our waters: identifying and reporting illegal discharges; el Thursday, August 22, 2024 From 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm at La Goyco Community Workshop. All neighbors and friends of Loíza Street are invited.
In addition to providing the in-person workshop, we will also be offering this workshop virtually. Tuesday, August 20, 2024 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom. Register today, here.
School activities at the County Lagoon
The Estuary is offering educational activities in Jaime Benítez Park, from interpretive tours, workshops and other activities related to the topics of biodiversity, ecosystems, water quality, green infrastructure and coastal resilience.
Spaces are available Monday through Friday, between 8:00 am and 12:00 pm, for groups of all levels (K-12), from public, private, or homeschool schools, with a maximum of 30 participants per activity. These activities count toward Green Contact hours.
To coordinate, write to us at: [email protected].
Collaborative course between the Estuary and the UPR
The Estuary invites you to enroll in the course CIAM 8990: Innovative approaches for a sustainable water resource infrastructure (Section 033); Open to master's and doctoral students at UPRRP and UPRM. Spaces are still available. Enroll today.
Seed collection in Piñones
Last Friday, August 2nd, five volunteers participated in a seed collection of various coastal vegetation species in the Piñones State Forest. Led by coordinators Agnes Pagán and Andreína Alexatos, the citizen scientists collected seeds of red mangrove, white mangrove, black mangrove, and button mangrove. The activity included an educational talk on how to identify the trees and their growth stages.
Planting of coastal vegetation in Arecibo
On Saturday, August 10, 21 volunteers planted approximately 870 red and white mangrove seedlings in Arecibo. The planting was carried out in collaboration with Surfrider Puerto Rico. Arborist Andreína Alexatos gave a short presentation about the importance of mangrove ecosystems on our coasts. This planting counted as a field experience for citizen scientist certification in the Coastal Resilience module.
Bird census in Julio E. Monagas Park
Listening to the song of our butterfly warbler, 23 people participated in the most recent participatory bird census for the Estuary's citizen science certification program, in Julio E. Monagas Park, in Bayamón, on Saturday, August 10. They were guided by Coral Avilés and Eliezer Nieves, from the Estuary's education team.
We congratulate the three citizen scientists who completed the requirements for the Participatory Bird Census module, and we invite everyone interested in learning more about our birdlife to participate in our upcoming activities. We will have a new workshop and field trip in September. Stay tuned to the Estuary's weekly update for details.
Citizen Scientist Certification
The following are the upcoming scheduled events. See more events at: estuary.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring Module:
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module:
Coastal Resilience Module:
Job opportunities
Content Editing and Development Services—The Estuary requests editing and content development services for two publications: a narrative/historical book about the Estuary and the revision of the Estuary Plan.
Estuary Resident Artists – Request for Proposals—The Estuary Resident Artists generate artistic expressions with the aim of involving citizens in the process of conservation and restoration of the estuary basin, in a creative and culturally relevant way.
[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
Evaluation conducted Thursday, August 15, 2024. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. Two stations in the lagoon exceeded the water quality standard for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 mL. We recommend avoiding the water during rain events.
