Weekly Estuary Update
The next Family Estuary Day, a city tour, an art auction, and National Estuary Week are coming up; see below for the events and activities scheduled for the coming weeks, benefiting the conservation and management of the waters connected to the San Juan Bay estuary.
Remember that we are still gathering information about environmental restoration efforts in the region . Keep reading!
Family day out
Join us for a Family Day Out at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve on Saturday, September 5, 2026, in celebration of West Indian Manatee Conservation Day. We'll have talks, a sports activity, art, an interpretive tour, and opportunities to earn Green Contact or community service hours. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is not required. See the schedule of activities at: estuary.org/events
Estuary Cinema
Estuary Cinema presents: Michael (2026); Saturday, September 5, 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. Bring your blanket or chair.
Urban tour
Join us for the Urban Tour: Discovering the connections between the city's water and the estuary; on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 8:00 am in Jaime Benítez Park of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
This tour counts toward Green Touch hours or community service. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately. Register today at: estuary.org/events
Gallery Tuesday
The San Juan Bay Estuary invites you to: Gallery Tuesday in Santurce, on September 1, 2026, at 6:00 pm at Galería Petrus (726 Hoare Street, San Juan, PR 00907). There will be a silent auction of artworks to benefit various organizations.
See more information at: petrusgallery.com
Save the date: Row with the Estuary
Let's row together for the health and conservation of our waterways!
On Sunday, September 20, 2026, from 9:00 am to 11:00 am, from your favorite body of water, join us by kayak, paddle board or paddle sport and help us raise awareness about the importance of protecting, restoring and conserving our aquatic ecosystems.
The Estuary team will be paddling from the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, where we'll also be learning about the lagoon's ecological importance and conservation efforts, but you can join from any body of water in Puerto Rico! This activity is part of our Estuary Week celebration.
We will be sharing more details about the activity soon.
Help us document restoration and conservation efforts in the estuary watershed
Each year, we document habitat restoration and conservation efforts implemented within the San Juan Bay estuary watershed. In doing so, we gather valuable information to support public investment in the region.
We urge all communities, organizations, or agencies that carry out restoration and conservation projects in the region to submit their projects corresponding to the period from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, including pending projects.
These projects are reported to the EPA and Congress. The form must be completed by September 30, 2026. We thank all the entities that are part of this effort. Access the form: HERE.
Job opportunity
Actions for coastal resilience
During August 2026, we carried out several green infrastructure restoration projects in the coastal regions connected to the San Juan Bay estuary:
On Saturday, August 1, twelve volunteers planted about 135 red mangrove seedlings on the southwest shore of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
On Saturday, August 8, nine volunteers planted some 173 specimens of coastal vegetation, including red mangrove, black mangrove and white mangrove, this time in the northwest area of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
On Saturday, August 15, nine volunteers collected some 2,256 red mangrove seedlings along the Martín Coll linear walkway in Hato Rey.
All three activities counted as field experience for the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification, with a focus on mangrove ecosystems. We appreciate the commitment and actions of these volunteers. You make the restoration of our coasts possible. We also congratulate those who completed their certification. Well done!
Citizen Scientist Certification
Here are the activities for the coming weeks. Remember that workshops and field experiences count toward Green Contact hours or community service. Minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately. See all activities at: estuary.org/events
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, September 3, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Bacteriological Monitoring ; Thursday, September 3rd, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Physical-Chemical Parameters ; Tuesday, September 8th, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, September 10, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Workshop ; Tuesday, September 1st, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrasses ; Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Planting Coastal Vegetation; Saturday, September 12, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, September 12, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, September 12, at 12:00 pm at County Lagoon
Field experience: Seed collection; Sunday, September 13, at 8:00 am in Hato Rey
Prepare yourself this hurricane season
This 2026 hurricane season, the San Juan Bay Estuary urges you to be prepared. Download the Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide and follow its recommendations. Protecting your community starts 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, August 27, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the coastal area, which 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.
