Weekly Estuary Update
September continues with exciting moments of learning and community action. From the Family Day Out at Condado Lagoon, where we celebrated the Caribbean manatee, to the start of National Estuary Week, which includes cleanups, fairs, workshops, and tours, we continue creating spaces to protect and enjoy our ecosystems. Discover recent and upcoming activities, and join us in celebrating and conserving the San Juan Bay estuary.
National Estuaries Week
National Estuary Week is here! Beginning Saturday, September 20, and continuing through Saturday, September 27, 2025, we have educational activities and training opportunities available for everyone, including opportunities to earn Green Touch hours or community service, as applicable. The scheduled activities are listed below:
International Coastal Cleanup 2025
Join the International Coastal Cleanup 2025, On Saturday, September 20, 2025. As in previous years, the Estuary joins Scuba Dogs Society, organizers of the island-wide event, leading the cleanup of the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
Join the Reserve team! Sign up here.
Estuary Fair
Don't miss the Estuary Fair on Saturday, September 20, starting at 9:00 am at Jaime Benítez Park in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. We'll have educational stations where you can learn about estuarine ecosystems, their biodiversity, and the projects we're carrying out to restore and maintain the water quality of the San Juan Bay estuary.
Estuary Cinema
Special Screening! Estuary Cinema presents: IF; the Saturday, September 20th, At 7:00 pm in Jaime Benítez Park at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, in celebration of National Estuary Week. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. As always, this screening is free. Bring your blanket or chair.
#FlowWithTheEstuary
Wear your official Estuary T-shirt and join the National Estuary Week celebration all day Friday, September 26. Share your photos on your favorite social media platform. Don't forget to tag us!
An afternoon with the Estuary
Enjoy an afternoon with the Estuary, the Friday, September 26, Starting at 5:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. We will have a salsa class with instructor Michelle Rodríguez, an interpretive tour of the Reserve, and we will close with a screening and discussion about the Puerto Rican documentary, When the sea reaches us.
Screening and discussion: When the sea reaches us
Coastlines worldwide are changing, and Puerto Rico's are no exception. To understand the effects of extreme weather events, this documentary takes us on a journey from Puerto Rico's beaches to Greenland, the world's largest island.
Produced by the Caribbean Center for Sea Level Rise, a program of the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust, in collaboration with the Rising Seas Institute, this short film guides us through a visual journey that combines scientific research with human interest stories, to highlight the urgency of adaptation and promote a more resilient future for Puerto Rico.
Following the documentary, we will have a discussion led by the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust. We hope to see you there!
Exploring the estuary
On Saturday, September 27, 2025, we will conclude the celebration of Estuaries Week with the third annual biodiversity documentation event at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm
Join our virtual training workshops, where you'll learn about the species you can find in the Reserve and how to use the biodiversity documentation tool, iNaturalist. All workshops will be held from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom. Register here:
Getting to know the aquatic life of the Reserve (Monday, 22)
Documenting the biodiversity of the Reserve [iNaturalist] (Tuesday, 23)
Getting to know the plants of the Reserve (Wednesday, 24)
Getting to know the terrestrial life of the Reserve (Thursday, 25)
See the full schedule of activities and register today at estuary.org/events.
Family day out
Last Saturday, September 6, the Estuary hosted its latest Family Day Out at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. We began with a badminton game for the whole family and continued with educational activities in celebration of Greater Caribbean Manatee Day.
A total of 19 participants learned about the natural history of this species, the challenges it faces in Puerto Rico, and the actions we can take to protect it. They also participated in a tour of the Reserve focused on the importance of mangroves for marine life and a talk on water quality, where we explored the role of corals and mangroves, and the citizen actions needed to improve the quality of our waters. The day trip concluded with an outdoor screening of Dune: Part Two at the Estuary, where about 35 people enjoyed watching the film.
We thank the administrator of Jaime Benítez Park, Wilfredo Vázquez, and everyone who joined us. The next day trip will be on Saturday, October 4th. We hope to see you there!
Green infrastructure workshop
Last Saturday, September 6, the Estuary, in collaboration with the Rio Piedras Center for Urban, Community and Business Action (CAUCE), held the workshop, Green Infrastructure: Benefits for water in the city.
The Capetillo Urban Garden, Nursery, and Forest in Río Piedras was the setting for this educational experience. During the activity, participants discovered the history of this urban forest, located in the heart of Río Piedras; the importance of green spaces for water quality; the stories of the community; and the efforts to conserve the Juan Méndez stream.
We thank Dr. Natalia Rodríguez, coordinator of the community garden, for contributing her expertise to the workshop alongside our team of educators. We also acknowledge everyone who participated in this educational and community-building experience, especially the residents of Capetillo, who joined us for the workshop and the walk through the forest.
Field Experiences in Coastal Resilience
Seed collection
On Thursday, September 11, we conducted a field experience for the Coastal Resilience module at the Enrique Martí Coll Linear Park. During the day, three volunteers learned about mangroves and collected approximately 875 red and white mangrove seeds, contributing to the restoration process of our coastlines.
Propagation of propagules
On Friday, September 12, a group of ten volunteers assisted with the maintenance and upkeep of the Estuary Nursery at the TAU Center in Loíza. The group received an educational presentation about mangroves and worked on propagating mangrove propagules to support future plantings and coastal restoration in the region.
We thank these volunteer groups for their environmental and community work, and congratulate them on continuing their Citizen Scientist Certification process with the Estuary. Congratulations!
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information about the certification and all the thematic modules at [link to website/website/etc.]. estuary.org/cccThese activities count towards community service hours and Green Contact.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field experience: Physical-chemical sampling; Monday, September 22, in San Juan
Field experience: Physical-chemical sampling; Tuesday, September 23, in San Juan
Field experience: Physical-chemical sampling; Wednesday, September 24, in San Juan
Field experience: Bacteriological monitoring; on Thursday, September 25, at County Lagoon
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Field experience; Friday, September 26, location will be announced.
Coastal Resilience Module
Field experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Friday, September 26, in San Juan
Media coverage
September 16, 2025. San Juan Bay Estuary invites you to celebrate Estuary Week. Science and Environment. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/ciencia-ambiente/otros/notas/estuario-de-la-bahia-de-san-juan-invita-a-celebrar-la-semana-de-los-estuarios/
September 16, 2025. Learn how Puerto Rico will celebrate Estuary Week. Local News. Metro PR. Web. https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2025/09/16/conoce-como-celebraran-la-semana-de-los-estuarios-en-puerto-rico/
September 16, 2025. Estuary Week 2025 highlights ecological restoration and citizen participation. Environment. Hey! Boricua. Web. https://eyboricua.com/semana-de-los-estuarios-2025-destaca-la-restauracion-ecologica-y-la-participacion-ciudadana/
September 16, 2025. The San Juan Bay Estuary invites you to commemorate Estuary Week. Health and Science. Radio Isla. Web. https://radioisla.tv/estuario-de-la-bahia-de-san-juan-invita-a-conmemorar-la-semana-de-los-estuarios1/?fbclid=IwY2xjawM5I2pleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFCN05zRVpLeTdzN2p5VDNwAR5wpbXaMy-QG2nBUX59dBJJ38GiZ0RLkfUdm0CZ0Dv1IxK1ISs9iRP8Ocfyew_aem_SVOJJUsdYtngMG0oTG7Gkg
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, September 18, 2025, as part of the Water Quality Monitoring module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification. The results are below:
Assessment conducted on Thursday, September 18, 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.
