Weekly Estuary Update
Greetings from the estuary! Below, we share upcoming events, experiences, and training, research, and professional development opportunities, as well as recent actions taken to benefit the restoration and management of the waters connected to the San Juan Bay estuary. Keep reading!
Come to the exhibition: The estuary is not still
The date has arrived! Antonio Martorell and his Friends invite you to the exhibition, The Estuary is not still, on Saturday, August 8, 2026, starting at 1:00 pm at Taller Comunidad La Goyco.
The collective of artists presented by Maestro Martorell joins the resident artists of past years, who, since 2018, have fostered, through multiple disciplines, the connection between the resilient communities of the San Juan Bay estuary and its waterways. Don't miss the result of this historic residency!
See more information, including the schedule of activities, at: estuary.org/events
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Note: La Goyco Community Workshop has portable toilets.
Interpretive tours in the Urban Forest Network
Explore the green spaces connected to the San Juan Bay estuary. Join us for interpretive tours: Discovering the Nature of Urban Forests; on the following dates:
Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 8:00 am in the Piñones State Forest
Friday, August 21, at 8:00 am in Julio E. Monagas Park.
Register today at: estuary.org/events
These interpretive tours count towards Green Contact hours or community service. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.
Job opportunity
Enroll in the graduate course: CIAM 8990
CIAM 8990: Innovative Approaches to Sustainable Water Resource Infrastructure; is an interdisciplinary course integrated with multiple sectors for the study of Socio-Ecological-Technological Systems (SETs). The Juan Méndez Creek channelization reversal project will be presented as a case study and a space for applying knowledge.
The aim is to provide students with the theory and tools to address issues related to Systems Thinking (SETs) when conducting research that promotes resilience in highly vulnerable regions. The course is both theoretical and practical, and will integrate and apply the concepts of systems thinking, collaborative work, community engagement, and interdisciplinary research.
The course is open to graduate students from multiple faculties and programs (e.g., Natural Sciences, Planning, Social Sciences, Architecture, Engineering, Public Health).
At the end of the course, students will create a research proposal using the Juan Méndez Ravine as a case study to compete for a one-year scholarship (stipend) ($20,000 for master's studies, $30,000 for doctoral studies). For more information, contact Dr. Jorge Ortiz Zayas (Department of Environmental Sciences, UPR-Río Piedras) at: [email protected]
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 at: estuary.org/ccc
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, August 13, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Physical-Chemical Parameters ; Thursday, August 13, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, August 20, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Participatory Bird Census Workshop ; Tuesday, August 18, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Workshop ; Tuesday, August 11, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Redisilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrasses ; Wednesday, August 12, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience: Seed collection; Saturday, August 15, at 8:00 am in Hato Rey
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, August 15, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, August 15, at 12:00 pm at County Lagoon
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Restoration of Dunes and Mangroves ; Thursday, August 20, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Seed Propagation; Saturday, August 22, at 8:00 am at Vivero Estuario in Centro Tau, Loíza
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, August 22, at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, August 22, at 12:00 pm at County Lagoon
Estuary at risk mitigation fair
The San Juan Bay Estuary participated in the " Your Safe House, Healthy Home: Hurricanes and Earthquakes" fair in the central atrium of Plaza Las Américas on Friday, July 31, 2026. We provided information to attendees about our Coastal Resilience module and how green infrastructure protects the health of our waters and communities. A big thank you to everyone who visited our booth!
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 6, 2026. 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. Have a good weekend.
