Estuary Update
Happy Thanksgiving Day!
During these holidays, we give thanks for the neighbors, friends, volunteers, collaborators, donors, and the team that make our work of restoring and managing the San Juan Bay estuary and its interconnected ecosystems possible.
Below, we share opportunities for collaboration, volunteering, and training this week, through initiatives and actions planned to benefit the ecosystems of the San Juan Bay Estuary and its communities.
Job opportunities
The coordinator must enthusiastically integrate all sectors into the event and lead their participation, considering and improving upon the data from previous years. The coordinator's primary goal should be access to clean and safe water for all in Puerto Rico.
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuary) is seeking qualified applicants for the Estuario Project Coordinator- Juan Méndez Creek position to carry out the reconnaissance study and develop report, manage data, support with coordination with USACE and any other support needed to manage technical aspects for the Juan Mendez Creek Restoration.
Estuario seeks a senior level expert/technical to bring support as a Technical Facilitator to lead an analysis of the conditions of the Juan Mendez Creek with the input from the Infrastructure Committee.
Estuary seeks qualified applicants for the field technician position to conduct a rapid needs assessment, gather data, conduct analysis, document, and present the results of the rapid needs assessment.
Estuario seeks proposals from qualified firms/individuals for Podcast Services to document the restoration of the Juan Méndez Creek under the funds of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
The Stakeholder and Engagement Coordinator supports Estuario's role as a regional convener, catalyst, and facilitator to restore and maintain clean waters that support thriving ecosystems, healthy communities, and a vibrant ecosystem in the San Juan Bay Estuary and its urbanized watershed.
The Citizen Science and Education Manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Estuary's capacity building efforts and education efforts at a regional level. This position will help develop and communicate data related to baseline conditions through habitat, restoration, or coastal resilience initiatives, volunteer monitoring, and other data sets through education efforts.
Certification of scientific citizens
Water quality module:
- November 27th – Field trip: water quality monitoring; with Rebeca Rivera, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in Las Curías and Río Piedras
- November 28th – Field trip: water quality monitoring; with Rebeca Rivera, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm in San Juan Bay
- November 29th – Field trip: water quality monitoring; with Rebeca Rivera, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at Laguna San José
- November 30th – Field trip: water quality monitoring; with Rebeca Rivera, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Condado Lagoon and adjacent beaches
Coastal resilience module:
- November 25th – Field trip: ecological assessment of seagrass communities [STUDENTS 9-12]; with Daritzel Cintrón, from 8:00 am to 11:00 am at the County Lagoon
- November 30th – Introduction to coastal resilience workshop; with Coral Avilés, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm via Zoom
- December 2 – Field trip: planting coastal vegetation; with Andreína Alexatos, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am in the Northeast Ecological Corridor in Luquillo
- December 9 – Field trip: maintenance of the Estuary Nursery; with Andreína Alexatos, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am at the TAU Center in Loíza
- December 12 – Field trip: collection of red mangrove seeds; with Andreína Alexatos, from 8:30 am to 11:30 am in Península del Pescador in Piñones
#GivingTuesday
Our work restoring and managing the San Juan Bay estuary is made possible through collaboration with citizens, municipalities, and government agencies (among others), via the exchange of infrastructure and scientific and technical data that support effective projects. However, beyond infrastructure, the most valuable resource for the estuary and its partners is an informed and engaged public.
With this goal in mind, we are training citizens in environmental restoration practices through our Citizen Scientist Certification in Coastal Resilience. This effort requires an investment of approximately $100,000 per year. Your donation will help us achieve this. #GivingTuesday It helps us get closer to this goal and continue training, reforesting, and collecting data to improve the quality of our water.
#GivingTuesday It will be held on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. There are many ways you can donate. Find out how at: https://estuario.org/donar/
Estuary Cinema
Bird Study Merit Badge for Scouts
The San Juan Bay Estuary in collaboration with the Puerto Rico Council and the Guaitiao District of the Boy Scouts of America will be offering the Bird Study Merit Badge.
The requirements for the merit badge will be presented in a virtual workshop via Zoom. The workshop consists of two parts on separate days, so participants must attend both virtual sessions.
1st Virtual Session: Wednesday, December 6, 2023 (6:00 PM to 7:30 PM)
2nd Virtual Session: Wednesday, December 13, 2023 (6:00 PM to 7:30 PM)
For the field requirement, we will have a list of dates to coordinate attendance at two bird censuses between December 14, 2023 and January 5, 2024. The listener must always be accompanied by an adult, so both must register for the dates they will be attending. Bird censuses will take place early in the morning from 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM.
Scouts interested in participating must have approval from their Scoutmaster and ensure that an adult leader from their unit registers and is present at both virtual sessions. Registration can be done at [website address]. estuary.org/events.
Weekly bacteriological monitoring
Assessment conducted on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. We have a RED flag for the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. We recommend avoiding areas that exceeded the Beach Action Value water quality standard of 70 CFU/100 ML. Have a great weekend!
