Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the estuary! Below, we share events, initiatives, and training and collaboration opportunities scheduled to benefit the waters, ecosystems, and communities connected to the San Juan Bay estuary.
Family day out
The Family Day Out at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve is back! This month, we celebrate Greater Caribbean Manatee Day. Join us on Saturday, September 6, 2025, starting at 3:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park. We'll have a sports activity, educational talks, an interpretive tour, and opportunities to earn Green Touch hours or community service, as applicable.
The family day trip is free. See more information at estuary.org/events.
Estuary Cinema
Estuary Cinema presents a new showing of Dune: Part Two on Saturday, September 6, 2025, at 7:00 pm in Jaime Benítez Park at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. This showing is free. Bring your blanket or chair!
Green infrastructure workshop for interpreters, educators, and community leaders
The Estuary invites everyone teachers, non-formal educators, interpreter guides and community leaders to the workshop, Green Infrastructure: benefits for water in the city; the Saturday, September 6, 2025, From 9:00 am to 11:00 am at the Capetillo Urban Garden, Nursery and Forest.
As part of the workshop, we will present concepts, benefits, and public policy regarding urban green spaces and conduct a guided tour of the Capetillo Urban Garden, Nursery, and Forest. Register today at: estuary.org/events.
The Estuary joins the “CARE for Pe ERRE” initiative in the Choliseo
Visit the waste management station at the Choliseo's Environmental Plaza and learn about the efforts of environmental and community organizations protecting the island's natural resources. The Estuary will be present on Friday, August 29, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Come and learn about reduction, reuse, and recycling strategies.
We thank Sin Plástico for the invitation and the other organizations that are part of this educational effort.
Results of the Recycling Pop-up
On Saturday, August 16, the Estuary participated in the Recycling Pop-up in Loíza, as part of the event's educational component, along with LimPiar, the Municipality of Loíza, and TAIS. On this occasion, a total of Libras 978 Recyclable materials, including plastics, aluminum, and cardboard, will be collected. These items will be diverted from landfills and handled by the Puerto Rican company, IFCO Recycling. The next Pop-up will be on Saturday, September 20, 2025. We hope to see you there!
A summer without plastic
The Estuary invites you to continue reducing, replacing, and eliminating single-use plastics. The campaign A summer without plastic It highlights reusable materials that can replace single-use plastic items, and continues to educate about the Law 51-2022: Law to prohibit the sale and use of single-use plastics.
Remember that the materials prohibited by this legislation are: 1) plates, 2) glasses, 3) cups, 4) cutlery, 5) single-use plastic straws, and 6) takeaway food containers. Join this initiative and enjoy your island with reusable utensils.
We thank LimPiaR, Alelí Environmental and the collaborators of AquaFest Puerto Rico, who have joined the campaign.
Urban tour in Old San Juan
On Saturday, August 9, we conducted the urban tour: Discovering the connections between the water of the city and the estuary; together with a group of citizens and estuary volunteers in Old San Juan.
During the tour, we explored the ecosystems that make up the San Juan Bay landscape, its geography, the connection of water from the city to the bay, the estuary's restoration and conservation efforts, and the actions we can take to contribute to the quality of our waters. Thank you to everyone who joined us!
Job opportunities
See all entries in estuary.org/jobs.
Job vacancies
Request for Proposals
[Request for Proposals] Technical Support Consultant
Other professional services contract opportunities
Green Infrastructure Specialist
Artists in Residence Coordinator
Collaborative Water Quality Monitoring Network Coordinator (IIJA)
Estuary carries out planting of coastal vegetation
As a field experience of the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification, 12 volunteers participated in a planting of coastal vegetation in the mangrove of Los Marullos beach, in Loíza, on Saturday, August 2.
They planted more than 60 red and black mangrove seedlings. The planting was done in collaboration with Vida Marina. Thank you!
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information at estuary.org/cccThese activities count towards community service hours and Green Contact hours.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field experience: Physical-chemical sampling; Monday, August 25, at 8:30 am at Lake Las Curías and the Piedras River
Field Experience: Physical-Chemical Sampling; Tuesday, August 26, at 9:00 am in San Juan Bay
Coastal Resilience Module
Field Experience: Coastal Vegetation Assessment; Friday, August 29, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
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 volunteer who assisted with the bacteriological monitoring on Thursday, August 21, 2025, as part of the Water Quality Monitoring module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification. Here are this week's results:
Assessment conducted on Thursday, August 21, 2025. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. However, 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.
