Weekly Estuary Update

We invite you to participate in the Estuary Plan Review, the guide that governs actions for the restoration and management of the waters connected to the San Juan Bay estuary, by attending the public hearing on Tuesday, June 16, 2026. More information below.

Don't miss out on the community outreach activities, volunteer opportunities, and professional development and training scheduled for the coming weeks. Keep reading!

Estuary Plan Review

Every ten years, the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership brings together its partners and communities in the region to refresh the Estuary Plan, a document that advances the mission to restore and conserve the water quality of the San Juan Bay Estuary ecosystem as a sustainable axis of social and economic development.

From April 16 to June 16, 2026, the general public will be able to comment on the final drafts of the five action plans developed by the Estuary Management Conference and approved by the Board of Directors of the San Juan Bay Estuary Conservation Corporation.

Come to the presentations and discussions

As part of the review and public comment period for the new Estuary Plan, the Estuary has conducted a series of presentations and community discussions around the watershed.

Through these spaces, we have been able to share the priority problems and the actions proposed in the five action plans that make up the new Estuary Plan, focused on:

Water Infrastructure
Estuarine Ecosystems
Integrated Management of Waste and Materials
Estuary System Adaptation
Promote a Culture of Integrated Management

These meetings also aim to gather questions, recommendations, and comments from the communities as part of the participatory process for reviewing the Plan. We invite you to participate in the upcoming presentations/discussions:

Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 7:00 pm | Rafael “Pipo” Negrón Activity Center, Toa Baja <📍🗺️>

Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at 6:00 pm | Auditorium of the Government Center, Trujillo Alto <📍🗺️>

We will soon announce additional meetings and discussions in other municipalities and communities in the basin.

We are deeply grateful to all the organizations, community leaders, and collaborators who are making these spaces for dialogue and citizen participation possible.

Come to the public hearing

The public hearing will be an open forum to gather feedback and recommendations from the community before finalizing the new plan. We invite community leaders, organizations, and the general public to participate.

Tuesday , June 16, 2026

From 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm

At the College of Engineers and Surveyors of Puerto Rico in Hato Rey (500 Calle Ing. Antolín Nin Martínez, San Juan, PR 00918) with virtual space through Zoom.

You can get the Zoom access link HERE.

You can view the documents for review HERE . Your comments can be submitted through this form or by email to: [email protected]

If you are interested in giving a deposition (virtually or in person) on June 16, please register HERE.

Family day out

Celebrate World Oceans Day at the next family outing to the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve on Saturday, June 6, 2026, starting at 2:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park. We'll have talks, educational games, and an interpretive tour. See the schedule of activities at: estuary.org/events

Several activities count towards Green Contact hours or community service. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Estuary Cinema

Estuary Cinema presents: Sonic 3; Saturday, June 6, 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!

Underwater tour in the County Lagoon

Don't miss the Underwater Tour: Discovering the Coral World in an Urban Environment; on Thursday, June 4, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Condado Lagoon, as part of Coral Reef Week, which runs from May 30 to June 6. Explore the coral reefs, marine plants, and species that depend on these ecosystems in the lagoon, while learning about their conservation and ecological importance.

This tour counts towards Green Contact hours or community service. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.

Interpretive tour at the County Lagoon

Estuary invites you to the interpretive tour: Birds and Trees in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve; Saturday, June 6, from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at Jaime Benítez Park. Walk, observe, and connect with this natural space in the heart of the city. You will discover the birds and trees that bring life to this ecosystem connected to the waters of the San Juan Bay estuary.

This interpretive tour counts towards Green Contact hours or community service. Minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.

Actions for the reduction of aquatic waste

In the watershed of the San Juan Bay estuary.

Call for volunteers for the recycling stations at Tito Matos Fest 2026

Estuario invites you to participate as a volunteer at the material diversion and recycling stations during the fourth edition of the Tito Matos Fest at Taller Comunidad La Goyco, on Saturday, June 20th and Sunday, June 31st, 2026. This effort is part of the community campaign, "Don't Let It Touch the Floor or Reach the Water ."

Choose a shift and register HERE.

The Tito Matos Fest commemorates the life, work, music, art, and community activism of Tito Matos, a great friend, collaborator, and neighbor of the San Juan Bay estuary. Volunteering at recycling stations during this event will count toward the Microplastics Characterization and Reduction module of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification.

Opportunities for professional services contracts

Data Specialist

Green Infrastructure Specialist

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 more information and register at: estuary.org/ccc

Water Quality Monitoring Module

Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Bacteriological Monitoring ; Thursday, June 11, at 7:00 pm via Zoom

Participatory Bird Census Module

Participatory Bird Census Workshop ; Tuesday, June 9, at 7:00 pm via Zoom

Field experience; Sunday, June 14, at 7:00 am at Lake Las Curías

Coastal Resilience Module

Field experience: Propagation of coastal vegetation; Sunday, May 31, at 8:00 am at the Estuary Nursery of Centro TAU, Loíza

Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrasses ; Tuesday, June 2nd, at 7:00 pm via Zoom

Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, June 6, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon

Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Wednesday, June 10, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon

Weekly bacteriological monitoring

Assessment conducted on Thursday, May 28, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. We recommend avoiding coastal 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. Have a good weekend.