Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the estuary! Below, we share with you the activities, collaborations, and opportunities that strengthen our mission to conserve our waterways and the well-being of our communities. Thank you for staying connected and being part of this collective effort.
Planting in the County Lagoon
On Saturday, July 12, 12 volunteers carried out a planting activity in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. They planted more than 550 specimens of white mangrove, button mangrove, and red mangrove. They also assessed and reinforced previous plantings.
The planting was carried out as a field experience for the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification, with a focus on the mangrove ecosystem. The group was led by coordinators Andreína Alexatos and Agnes Pagán.
Family day out at County Lagoon
The Family Day Trip to the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve is back! This month we'll be celebrating mangrove ecosystems. Join us on Saturday, August 2, 2025, starting at 3:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park.
We will have a sports activity, educational games, an educational talk, a tour of the Reserve, and opportunities to accumulate Green Touch hours or community service, as applicable.
See more information at: estuary.org/events . The family day trip takes place on the first Saturday of each month.
Estuary Cinema presents: Dune 2
Estuary Cinema presents: Dune 2; Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 7:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. This screening is free. Bring your blanket or chair! Estuary Cinema is presented on the first Saturday of every month.
Help us improve the infrastructure of the San Juan metropolitan area
The draft of Action Plan #1 for the Estuary Plan review is now available. We encourage all citizens, scientists, experts, and other interested parties to review it and share their questions, concerns, additions, and other comments on or before Friday, August 15, 2025.
The actions presented focus on maintaining and improving the obsolete and dilapidated gray and green infrastructure that negatively impacts the quality of water and sediments in the estuarine bed: Sanitary water infrastructure, stormwater infrastructure, drainage and water exchange infrastructure, to mitigate erosion and sediment transport, port and vessel infrastructure, transport and mobility infrastructure, collaborative monitoring of water quality and analysis of impacts from areas outside the current study area.
We will hold two discussions to generate debate and inspiration:
- Scientific and technical conversation For scientists, experts, and those familiar with the San Juan Bay estuary system, the Monday, July 21, 2025 at 10:00 am at the Estuary offices in Santurce, San Juan, with virtual space.
- Community conversation For residents, neighbors, and friends of the region, the Tuesday, July 22, 2025 at 6:00 pm at the Estuary offices in Santurce, San Juan, with virtual space.
Register today at estuary.org/events.
We greatly appreciate your support in sharing this information and ensuring that as many citizens, communities, scientists, and experts as possible can actively participate in this review.
Define with us the future of the waters of the San Juan metropolitan region. The Estuary Plan belongs to everyone, because we live with the Estuary.
Enroll in the graduate course: CIAM 8990 – Innovative Approaches to a Sustainable Water Infrastructure
University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus
Faculty of Natural Sciences | Department of Environmental Sciences
Graduate Course: CIAM 8990 – Section 033
Semester from August to December 2025
Friday, 9:00 am – 11:50 am @ Room C-221
Credits: 3
An opportunity for interdisciplinary research from the Juan Méndez Ravine
This theoretical and practical course, developed in partnership with the San Juan Bay Estuary, proposes an innovative approach to the analysis and planning of resilient water infrastructure in urban contexts. Through the case study of the Juan Méndez Ravine, knowledge of the social, ecological, and technological context will be integrated to formulate research proposals.
Course objectives:
- Strengthen interdisciplinary research and analysis skills
- Explore participatory planning approaches with communities and government entities (state and municipal)
- Design proposals for sustainable management and resilient infrastructure contextualized to the reality of Puerto Rico
- Participate in field visits, workshops, and collaborative exercises
Who is it for?
The course is open to Master's and PhD students from various disciplines, including: Environmental Science, Planning, Engineering, Architecture, Social Sciences and related fields.
Academic and professional opportunities
- Expert advice for the development of proposals applicable to theses or research projects
- Opportunity to compete for a Fellowship sponsored by the Estuary (limited places)
- Direct collaboration with the Estuary's team of experts
- Participation in field trips through the Juan Méndez Ravine basin
Register for the information session with Prof. Jorge Ortiz-Zayas and Brenda Torres Barreto, Course TA and Executive Director of the Estuary, on July 29 through the events portal on the Estuary website: estuary.org/events
Contact information:
Prof. Jorge Ortiz-Zayas – [email protected]
Request for Proposal
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership seeks qualified applicants to provide services as a Technical Support Consultant and support Estuary's water quality and environmental data monitoring and related efforts through technical support, data management, analysis, synthesis, and visualization.
See the RFP at: estuario.org/empleos
Pop-Up Recycling Center in Loíza
On Saturday, July 19, we will be present with our information table at the monthly LimPiaR event, a Recycling Pop-up, in Miguel Fuentes Pinet Park, Municipality of Loíza.
Visit us and learn how to prevent vegetable oil from reaching gray infrastructure, the municipal vegetable oil diversion program, and the importance of protecting the integrity of water infrastructure and natural resources. Also, learn about the joint Estuary and LimPiaR campaign, " Leave a Clean Footprint in Piñones ."
We acknowledge the vegetable oil diversion program of the municipality of Loíza, who maintain this effort and the infrastructure to divert oil from the residents of the municipality. We thank LimPiaR for the invitation and follow-up on this event. See you then!
Estuary present in A different sunset
In collaboration with the organizations Sin Plástico and Scuba Dogs Society, the Estuary participated in the educational and cleanup event, A Different Sunset, on Saturday, July 12. As part of the event, volunteers removed approximately 125 lbs. of solid waste from the southern area of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Reserve.
At the conclusion of the cleanup, Estuary Public Policy Advisor Stacy Larancuent gave an educational presentation on Law 51-2022, the Law to Prohibit the Sale and Use of Single-Use Plastics. The presentation served to clarify questions about Law 51-2022, provide updates, and encourage participants to be mindful of the materials we use and generate.
As a reminder, the materials prohibited under this legislation are: single-use plates, glasses, cups, cutlery, straws, and takeaway food containers. We encourage you to replace these items with reusable ones in your daily life.
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information at estuary.org/ccc . These activities count toward community service and Green Touch hours.
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Microplastic Characterization and Reduction Field Experience; Saturday, July 26, at 9:00 am. Location to be announced.
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Restoration of Dunes and Mangroves ; Thursday, July 24, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Coastal Resilience Field Experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Saturday, July 26, at 8:00 am in Piñones, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Field Experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Sunday, July 27, at 8:00 am in Piñones, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Field Experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Saturday, August 2nd, at 8:00 am in Piñones, Loíza
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
Thanks to the volunteers who supported this week's bacteriological monitoring, as part of the Water Quality Monitoring module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification. The results are below:
Assessment conducted on Thursday, July 17, 2025. We have a RED 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.
