Weekly Estuary Update
Next week we celebrate Earth Day! First observed in 1970, Earth Day is celebrated every April 22nd. This movement aims to highlight the importance of environmental conservation and the sustainable use of our Earth's resources. We only have one!
This year, earthday.org is celebrating Earth Day with the theme: Planet vs. Plastics. This theme aims to draw attention to the growing plastic and microplastic pollution and the actions we are taking to mitigate the problem. Learn more at earthday.org.
Return your Puerto Rico Water Quality Day kit
We did it! The sixteenth Puerto Rico Water Quality Day was on Saturday, April 13, 2024. We thank everyone who came out across the island and collected water quality data.
During the opening press conference at Jaime Benítez Park in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, the Estuary announced the allocation of $450,000 in funding for the automation of fifteen pumping stations. This measure will help protect and manage the interconnected waterways of the San Juan Bay estuary, as well as the surrounding urban infrastructure. See media coverage below.
Remember to record the data collected during the event. Go to estuary.org/waterqualityday and fill out the Water Quality Day Form today.
We are collecting the distributed water quality kits. To return your kit, please stop by our office at 1315 Avenida Ponce de León, San Juan, PR 00907, Monday through Friday, between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.
You can also visit Jaime Benítez Park in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve on Saturday, April 20th and Sunday, April 21st , between 12:00 pm and 6:00 pm, and on Sunday, April 28th, from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm.
If you have any questions or concerns, please write to us at: [email protected] or call us at 787-725-8165.
Certification of scientific citizens
The following workshops and field trips will be held soon. See all scheduled events at: estuary.org/ccc.
Coastal resilience module:
Field trip: ecological assessment of seagrasses – Wednesday, April 24, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am at County Lagoon, with Daritzel Cintrón, coastal resilience coordinator
Field trip: planting coastal vegetation – Saturday, April 27, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at Playita San Gerónimo, with Andreína Alexatos, arborist
Participatory bird census module:
Thematic workshop: Endemic birds of Puerto Rico found in the Estuary Basin – Thursday, April 25, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom, with Eliezer Nieves, public participation specialist
Field trip: participatory bird census – Friday, April 26, from 7:00 am to 9:00 am at the UPR Río Piedras Botanical Garden, with Eliezer Nieves and Coral Avilés, environmental educator
Register today at: estuary.org/ccc.
Video Production Services—Request for Quote – The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership, Estuario, is looking to engage a professional consultant(s) to provide video production services to produce a video for the Estuario's 30th anniversary.
Economic Valuation Study—Request for Proposal – The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership is looking to engage a professional consultant(s) to conduct an economic valuation study to determine the current economic value of the natural resources and services in the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed.
Accountant – 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.
Senior Project Lead for the Juan Mendez Creek Restoration – This contractor will act as project liaison and will be responsible for leading the technical aspects of the project; carry out the reconnaissance study and develop the report, manage data, support coordination with USACE and carry out any other tasks needed to manage technical aspects for the Juan Mendez Creek Restoration.
Stakeholder and Engagement Manager – The Stakeholder and Engagement Manager assists the Executive Director and the Management Conference with engagement, educational, and outreach activities. The position oversees and coordinates Management Conference (MC) committees and pursues new partnerships and funding opportunities; they provide staff support for the Management Conference and serve as a liaison for various external working groups.
Recruiting Services—Request for Proposal – The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership, or Estuary, requests proposals from qualified individuals or firms to provide recruiting services for various open positions (contractor and staff). The selected firm will be responsible for sourcing, screening, and presenting qualified candidates to fill positions in accordance with the Estuario's internal policies and procedures and other grant requirements.
Capacity Building and Facilitation Services—Request for Proposal – The Capacity Building Services supports Estuario's role as a regional convener, catalyst, and facilitator to restore and maintain clean waters that support a thriving ecosystem, healthy communities, and vibrant ecosystem in the San Juan Bay Estuary and its urbanized watershed.
Estuary Resident Artists—Request for Proposal – The Estuary Resident Artists create artistic expressions with the aim of engaging citizens in the conservation and restoration of the estuary basin in a creative and culturally relevant way. Through dialogue and the exchange of ideas on the restoration and conservation of the estuarine ecosystem, the resident artists raise environmental awareness and facilitate the development of a resilient watershed.
See all opportunities at: estuary.org/jobs.
Coastal cleanup with Scuba Dogs Society
On Saturday, April 27, 2024, from 8:00 am to 12:00 pm, Estuario will be part of the Deep Clean-Up with Scuba Dogs Society, starting from Playita del Condado. Simultaneous cleanups will be conducted on the shore and the seabed, using free diving or snorkeling . This activity counts toward Green Contact hours or community service. See more information at: scubadogssociety.org/calendario and select the San Juan Bay Estuary option to participate with us. We hope to see you there!
Save the date: Family day trip to County Lagoon
New month, new family outing! Save the date: Saturday, May 4th, to join us in celebrating all mothers at our next Family Outing to the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. We'll have a macrame workshop, a Zumba class for moms, a birdwatching tour (with Green Contact hours), a talk on endemic birds (with Green Contact hours), and Estuary Cinema. Our friends from Pizzeria 188 will be there selling food and snacks. We hope to see you there!
Estuary Cinema
It's time for another Estuary Movie Night! On Saturday, May 4, 2024, don't miss the movie: Trolls , at 7:00 pm in Jaime Benítez Park at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. The movie will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. Bring your blanket or chair!
Other activities
Seed collection
On Friday, April 5, 2024, ten participants accompanied arborist Andreína Alexatos and student participation coordinator Agnes Pagán on a seed collection for coastal plantings in the Piñones State Forest. The group collected seeds of white and button mangroves and received an educational presentation on how to identify these trees and their growth stages. We appreciate the participation of these volunteers, who are in the process of becoming certified as citizen scientists in the coastal resilience module. Congratulations!
Planting of coastal vegetation
On Saturday, April 6, the Estuary's coastal resilience team, in collaboration with the Surfrider Foundation, planted approximately 487 coastal vegetation plants on Shacks Beach, Isabela, with the help of 25 volunteers. This planting was part of a field trip for the Estuary's Citizen Scientist certification in the coastal resilience module. You can find more coastal restoration opportunities at: estuary.org/ccc.
Water quality workshop at the Ponce Principal Correctional Institution
On Wednesday, April 16, Dr. Jorge Bauzá, scientific director of the San Juan Bay Estuary, conducted a water quality workshop with inmates from the Educational Program of the Ponce Principal Correctional Institution.
The workshop covered the processes and parameters involved in water quality assessment and the importance of access to clean and safe water. The group conducted water quality assessments using samples taken from the beach at Las Cucharas, Ponce.
Media coverage
April 13, 2024. Allocation of funds for improvements to the drinking water system in the Estuary Basin. Local News. TeleOnce. Web. https://teleonce.com/noticias/locales/asignacion-de-fondos-para-mejoras-de-sistema-de-agua-potable-en-la-cuenca-del-estuario/
April 14, 2024. Fifteen pumping stations to be automated. Puerto Rico Today. El Nuevo Día. p.14.
April 12, 2024. National Water Quality Day: Activities carried out to collect samples. News. TeleOnce. https://teleonce.com/noticias/locales/dia-nacional-de-la-calidad-del-agua-realizan-actividades-para-tomar-muestras/
April 13, 2024. Allocation of funds for improvements to the drinking water system in the Estuary Basin. Local News. TeleOnce. Web. https://teleonce.com/noticias/locales/asignacion-de-fondos-para-mejoras-de-sistema-de-agua-potable-en-la-cuenca-del-estuario/
April 13, 2024. $400 allocated for improvements to the San Juan Bay estuary. Telenoticias. Telemundo Puerto Rico. https://youtu.be/KeKQbQ5V5wk?si=AEtsMRfdtHU7LUW6
Weekly water quality monitoring
Assessment conducted on Thursday, April 18, 2024. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. However, we recommend avoiding areas that exceeded the water quality parameter for enterococci, "Beach Action Value," of 70 CFU/100 mL. Remember to avoid the water during rain events. Have a great weekend!
