Weekly Estuary Update
This week we continue to promote actions to protect our waters, from community initiatives for recycling and reducing aquatic waste to workshops and field experiences for the Citizen Scientist Certification. Support, take action, and learn alongside the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Support the Estuary with your Refund
This tax season, consider donating part of your refund to conservation and management efforts for the waters and ecosystems connected to the San Juan Bay estuary.
Look for the option “Contribution to the Special Fund for the San Juan Bay Estuary”, which you will find in the box “Refund” on page 1 of your form.
This method is possible thanks to Law 48 of 2009, which establishes the Special Fund for the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Learn about the different methods available to donate to the Estuary at estuary.org/donate/.
Family day out at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve
The first Saturday of the month is almost here! Join us for a family day of learning and adventure at the Laguna del Condado Estuarine Nature Reserve on Saturday, March 7, 2026, at Jaime Benítez Park. We will have the following activities:
[2:00 pm] Sports activity – Enjoy a game of badminton with family and friends.
[3:00 pm] Puerto Rico Water Quality Day Training Workshop – Get ready to participate in the eighteenth Puerto Rico Water Quality Day. Join this workshop and be part of the citizen monitoring of our archipelago's water bodies (Green Contact/community service).
[4:00 pm] Land cleanup of the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve – Join our team in this waste collection around the Reserve (Green Contact/community service).
[6:00 pm] Educational talk: The wildlife of the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve – Learn about the species that inhabit the Reserve and their importance (Green Contact/community service).
We look forward to seeing you! No registration is required. Several activities count toward Green Contact hours or community service, as applicable. For any questions or comments, please write to us at: [email protected].
Estuary Cinema
Estuary Cinema presents: How to Train Your Dragon (2025); Saturday, March 7, 2026, 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. No registration is required. Bring your blanket or chair.
Aquatic waste reduction initiatives
In the watershed of the San Juan Bay estuary.
Pop-up Recycling in Loíza
Estuario will be present at the next Recycling Pop-up in Loíza, on Saturday, February 21, 2026, from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Miguel Fuentes Pinet Stadium.
Stop by our educational table and learn about the community campaign in collaboration with LimPiaR. Leave a clean footprint in Piñones, as well as the importance of conserving water resources and gray infrastructure, through efforts to properly divert used vegetable oil from the Municipality of Loíza.
The event takes place every month, on the third Saturday of each month. The following materials are diverted: plastics #1, #2 and #5, aluminum, brass, and corrugated cardboard.
Dispose of your electronics properly
Take advantage of the electronic equipment collection event of the Municipality of Trujillo Alto, on Saturday, February 28, 2026, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm in front of the Municipal Office for Emergency Management (Carr. 486 Km. 1.6, Barrio Cuevas).
They will accept computers, cell phones, tablets, chargers, computer parts and cables, routers and converter boxes, DVDs, VHSs, VCRs, GPSs, printers, fax machines and scanners, radios, sound equipment, cameras, MP3s and televisions.
Learn more about the Trujillo Alto Municipality Recycling Program. here.
Actions for coastal resilience
Dune and mangrove workshop
Arborist Andreína Alexatos facilitated the Coastal Resilience module workshop: Ecological Restoration of Dunes and Mangroves; to a group of 21 students from the American Military Academy, on Monday, February 2, 2026. This workshop is part of the students' Citizen Scientist Certification process and counted toward community service hours.
Planting of coastal vegetation
On Friday, February 6, three volunteers carried out a field experience of the Coastal Resilience module, together with staff from the Estuary, in the Estuarine Nature Reserve of the County Lagoon.
The activity began with an introductory talk about green infrastructure restoration efforts and the value of vegetation in mitigating coastal erosion. The group then planted eight trees in the area, including cayur, yellow abey, guayacán, and button mangrove. The planting took place among deteriorating almond trees.
Previous plantings were reinforced by placing stakes and rocks at the base of the plants. We observed positive results: the species continue to show good development in the area.
We thank the volunteers for their commitment and enthusiasm. Every tree planted contributes to the safety and health of the ecosystems connected to the San Juan Bay estuary. See more activities scheduled as part of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification below.
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. Remember that all workshops and field experiences count toward Green Contact hours or community service. See more information at [website address]. estuary.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; on Monday, February 23, at 8:30 am at Río Piedras and Lago Las Curías
Field experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; on Tuesday, February 24, at 9:00 am in San Juan Bay
Field experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; on Wednesday, February 25th, at 8:00 am at Laguna San José/Torrecilla
Field experience: Bacteriological monitoring; on Thursday, March 5, at 9:30 am at the County Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Bacteriological Monitoring; on Thursday, March 5th, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience of Participatory Bird Censuses; on Saturday, February 21st, at 7:00 am at Laguna Blasina
Participatory Bird Census Workshop; on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience of Participatory Bird Censuses; on Sunday, March 8, at 7:00 am in San Juan Central Park
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Workshop; on Thursday, February 26th, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience in the characterization and reduction of microplastics; on Saturday, February 28th, at 9:30 am at Laguna San José
Coastal Resilience Module
Field experience: Plant propagation and maintenance; on Saturday, February 28th, at 8:00 am at Vivero Estuario in Centro TAU, Loíza
Field experience: Ecological assessment of coral reefs; on Saturday, March 7, at 8:00 am at the County Lagoon
Field experience: Ecological assessment of seagrasses; on Saturday, March 7, at 12:00 pm at the County Lagoon
We live with the estuary
In case you missed it: Don't pour used vegetable cooking oil down the sink! Learn the steps to take to divert it properly. Watch the San Juan Bay Estuary's latest public service announcement below.
Weekly bacteriological monitoring
Thanks to the volunteers who supported the bacteriological monitoring on Thursday, February 19, 2026, as part of the Water Quality Monitoring module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification. The results are below:
Assessment conducted on Thursday, February 19, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the area that exceeded the "Beach Action Value" water quality parameter for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid the water during rain events. Have a good weekend.
