Weekly Estuary Update
The San Juan Bay Estuary invites you to continue connecting with nature and your estuarine community! From educational activities for the whole family during the upcoming Day Trip to opportunities to contribute to the well-being of our waters, there are many ways to participate, learn, and support. Below, we share upcoming volunteer initiatives, research proposals, and Citizen Scientist Certification activities. Explore our initiatives and join the efforts that strengthen the health of our waters.
Family day out
Join us for the next family day trip to the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, the Saturday, December 6, 2025 Starting at 3:30 pm in Jaime Benítez Park. We will have the following activities:
Art in the estuary with the artist Camila Meléndez Cruz (3:30 pm)
An activity for the whole family! Using estuarine images and repurposed textiles, we will create linoleum prints.
Bring your own repurposed fabric, tote bag, or other textile you'd like to give a new life to. We'll have the necessary materials and additional fabrics.
Botanical tour (4:30 pm)
Join a botanical tour of the Reserve, where you will learn about the diversity of its flora and its importance to the waters of the San Juan Bay estuary.
[Green Contact/Community Service]
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves (5:30 pm)
With arborist Andreína Alexatos. Learn how mangroves and dunes strengthen our coastlines. This workshop counts towards the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification.
[Green Contact/Community Service]
The Family Day Trip provides opportunities to accumulate Green Touch hours or community service, as applicable. For questions or comments, please write to us at: [email protected]Everyone is invited. No registration is required to participate.
Giving tuesday
Support the restoration and management of the waters connected to the San Juan Bay estuary. Make your donation to Estuary today, in commemoration of the next Giving Tuesday, a day for giving, on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.
Your donation will help us achieve cleaner, healthier water for everyone. Any amount is appreciated.
See the different ways you can contribute, at: https://estuario.org/donar.
Friends of the Lagoon Meeting
Don't miss the next Friends of the Lagoon meeting, on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at 6:00 pm in Jaime Benítez Park of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, with virtual space via Zoom.
Everyone is invited. To receive your virtual access link, sign up at: estuary.org/events.
Call for research proposals—Scholarship for graduate students
The San Juan Bay Estuary will offer a scholarship for graduate students to develop and conduct studies aimed at understanding and addressing the complex problems identified in the Juan Méndez ravine in San Juan. Interested applicants are encouraged to focus their research proposals on topics related to ecosystem analysis, innovative problem-solving strategies, and community outreach.
The deadline is December 15, 2025. The period is six months. The scholarship is $10,000 for master's students and $15,000 for doctoral students. More information is available. here.
Job opportunity
Opportunities for professional services contracts
Citizen Scientist Certification
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. Workshops and field experiences for the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification count toward Green Touch hours or community service. See more information at: estuary.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Bacteriological Monitoring; on Tuesday, December 9, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, December 11, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Physical-Chemical Parameters; on Thursday, December 11, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; Monday, December 15, at 8:30 am at Lake Las Curías and the Piedras River
Field Experience: Physical-Chemical Monitoring; Tuesday, December 16, at 9:00 am in San Juan Bay
Field experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; Wednesday, December 17, at 8:00 am at Laguna San José/Torrecilla
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, December 18, at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Characterization and Reduction of Microplastics
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Workshop; on Tuesday, December 2, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Microplastic Characterization and Reduction Field Experience; Saturday, December 6, at 9:00 am. Location to be announced.
Coastal Resilience
Field experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Saturday, November 29, at 8:00 am in Piñones
Field Experience: Seed and Plant Propagation; Sunday, November 30, at 8:00 am at Centro TAU, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; on Thursday, December 4th, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field Experience: Seed and Plant Propagation; Sunday, December 14, at 8:00 am at Centro TAU, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; on Tuesday, December 16, at 7:00 pm via Zoom
Field experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Saturday, December 20th, at 8:00 am in Piñones
Media coverage
Brenda Torres Barreto. November 21, 2025. The challenge of a risk-free economy. Opinion. El Nuevo Día. p. 39.
Get ready for hurricane season
As the 2025 hurricane season ends, the Estuary invites you to begin preparing for next year. Download the Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide And follow their recommendations. The strength and resilience of your community begins in your home.
Also visit the Virtual Estuary Community Centerwhere you will find vital information, such as relevant emergency numbers and instructions for preparing emergency backpacks.
Don't panic! Get ready.
Weekly bacteriological monitoring
Assessment conducted on Wednesday, November 26, 2025. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. 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.
