Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the estuary! Through our weekly update, we share with you the events, training workshops, and collaboration opportunities available to benefit the interconnected waters of the San Juan Bay estuary.
National Estuaries Week
We're closing out National Estuary Week in a big way! On Saturday, September 28, come to the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve and join us for various biodiversity documentation tours, starting from 7:00 am to 10:00 pm.
We will also have the workshop: Proper Handling of Vegetable Oil in the Estuary Basin; from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm
There are still spaces available! Sign up today at estuario.org/eventos.
Family Day Trip to the Estuarine Nature Reserve of the County Lagoon
Activities at the Reserve continue! On Saturday, October 5, 2024, don't miss the Family Day Out, starting at 3:00 pm. We will have the following activities:
[3:00 pm] Soccer game
[4:30 pm] Interpretive walk through the Reserve (with Green Contact hours)
[5:30 pm] Trivia: The Bats of Puerto Rico (with hours of Contacto Verde)
[6:30 pm] Story reading: Canito, the fishing bat (with Green Contact hours)
As part of our Estuary Cinema series, we'll be showing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem at 7:00 pm in Jaime Benítez Park. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. As always, this screening is free. Bring your blanket or chair.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Collaboration between municipalities in the management of resources and waste
On Tuesday, September 24, 2024, the most recent Annual Meeting of the Intermunicipal Network for Integrated Resource and Waste Management of the Estuary Basin was held. The meeting successfully reported on the progress of the Intermunicipal Network's activities, identified opportunities for collaboration, and provided tools for developing municipal-level recycling plans.
Representatives from the municipalities of Bayamón, Canóvanas, Cataño, Guaynabo, Loíza, San Juan, Toa Baja, and Trujillo Alto attended. We also had representatives from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources and the Department of Consumer Affairs. Participating companies included Sun Waste, Tais, and Reciclaje del Norte, as well as the following non-profit organizations: PR Science Trust, CCOREM, Taller Comunidad La Goyco, SWANA, IIAM, IEMES, CAMBIO PR, and Generación Circular.
We are immensely grateful for the environmental commitment of the municipalities in the Network, the companies present, and the non-profit organizations working toward a more sustainable Puerto Rico. Thanks also to the Municipality of Trujillo Alto, who hosted this meeting.
Counting the birds of the estuary
Among the trees, the song of the nightingale, the oriole and the woodpecker, we continued the celebration of National Estuaries Week, with the participatory bird census carried out on Sunday, September 22 at the UPR Botanical Garden in Río Piedras.
Thanks to the volunteers who came together and to our estuarine bird educators, Eliezer Nieves and Coral Avilés, who guided the participants in this experience, which is part of the requirements of the Participatory Bird Census module of the Estuary's citizen scientist certification.
Environmental actions on Loíza Street
Cristina Ramírez, the Estuary's aquatic waste project manager, was featured in the latest episode of Archivo G, the vlog from Taller Comunidad La Goyco. In this environmentally themed episode, Cristina talks with Mariana Reyes about managing the community waste reduction campaign, " Don't Let It Touch the Ground or Reach the Water," a collaboration between the Estuary and La Goyco in the communities surrounding Loíza Street. They are joined by Ángel Rodríguez from Martín Peña Recicla. Watch the episode HERE.
Job opportunities
Accountant (part time) — 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.
Technical Support Consultant —The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) seeks qualified applicants to provide services as a Technical Support Consultant to support Estuario's water quality monitoring and related efforts through technical support, data management, and visualization.
Artists in Residence Coordinator —The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuary) is seeking a coordinator with experience in arts and culture to support the Estuario Artist in Residence (AIR) initiative.
Community Liaison —The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuary) seeks qualified applicants to work as a Community Liaison under the Juan Méndez Creek (JMC) Restoration Project.
Community Facilitator (RFP) —The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuary) seeks qualified applicants to provide services as a Community Facilitator in the Juan Méndez Creek (JMC) Restoration Project.
The International Coastal Cleanup was a success
On Saturday, September 21, the start of National Estuary Week, the Estuary participated in the International Coastal Cleanup, led in Puerto Rico by the Scuba Dogs Society. The Estuary served as the cleanup captain in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
Approximately 101 volunteers removed 46 bags containing about 426 pounds of various types of waste from the Reserve . Among the more unusual items the group found were a bag of medications, a suitcase, a speaker cover, textiles, and an electronic tablet.
We thank all the volunteers who joined us at the Reserve, including the Los Tsunamis swimming group, the Puerto Rican SUP League, the Marista School Surfrider Club, the Commonwealth-Parkville School group, School of San Juan, Nueva Pedagogía, Arcadis, and the students from the University of Puerto Rico and Inter-American University of Puerto Rico systems. Thanks also to the Scuba Dogs Society for organizing this event and to the Municipality of San Juan for its continued support.
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the upcoming scheduled events. See more events at: estuary.org/ccc.
Coastal Resilience Module:
Media coverage
Editorial Staff. September 22, 2024. Estuary Week Celebrated in Laguna del Condado. El Vocero. Web. https://www.elvocero.com/actualidad/celebran-la-semana-de-los-estuarios-en-laguna-de-condado/article_40e967b0-7935-11ef-a7b4-279f4d0e89df.html
September 22, 2024. Estuary Week Celebrated in Condado Lagoon. Metro Puerto Rico. Web. https://www.metro.pr/noticias/2024/09/22/celebran-la-semana-de-los-estuarios-en-la-laguna-del-condado/?outputType=amp
[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.
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, September 26, 2024. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. However, we recommend avoiding the water in areas that exceeded the water quality parameter for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 mL. Remember to avoid the water during rain events.
