Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the estuary! Below, we share the events, opportunities, and initiatives planned to benefit the waters, ecosystems, and communities of the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Family day out at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve
On Saturday, July 13th, we celebrated our family day out at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. In the morning, we began with the annual workshop for estuary educators, with nine participants.
Although the rain prevented us from carrying out the scheduled cleanup of the lagoon, we later played a soccer game as a sporting activity. Afterwards, botanist Mario García led about eight people on an interpretive walk, where they discussed the uses of the plants in the Reserve.
Finally, 38 people attended the screening of The Flash at Cine del Estuario. We thank Héctor Sáez, from the Recreation and Sports Department of the Autonomous Municipality of San Juan, for his collaboration and support. Until next time!
The adventures of the students in the 3E Program continue
On Wednesday, June 26, students from the UPRRP's 3E (Examine + Explore + Expand) Program internship visited the Piñones State Forest. There, they were received by the forest management officer, biologist Herminio Diaz, who briefed them on forest management, its challenges, and opportunities.
Then, led by the estuarine education and birdwatching team, Coral Avilés Santiago and Eliezer Nieves Rodríguez, they carried out a bird census as part of the Participatory Bird Census module of the Estuary's citizen scientist certification.
Among woodpeckers, mockingbirds, brown pelicans, great kiskadees and an osprey they explored the forest, listened to its sounds and connected with its nature.
Planting of coastal vegetation
As part of the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuary's citizen scientist certification, 23 volunteers planted some 478 specimens of various species of coastal vegetation, at Shacks Beach, Isabela, on Saturday, July 13, 2024.
The planting was carried out in collaboration with Surfrider Foundation Puerto Rico. The activity focused on mangrove restoration in the area and reinforcing previous plantings.
#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 plates and food containers.
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.
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:
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.
[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 free printed copy, please contact us at 787-725-8165.
Media coverage
July 14, 2024. 45 Women Who Move the Caribbean. Magazine. El Nuevo Día. pp. 7, 11, 14.
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 18, 2024. We have a RED flag at County Lagoon. We recommend avoiding areas that exceeded the water quality standard for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 mL. The average value in the lagoon meets the established standard, but due to recent rain events, we recommend avoiding the water.
