Join the celebration!
From September 19-26, 2026 , we're celebrating National Estuary Week ! We have a packed schedule of learning activities, environmental restoration projects, and opportunities to connect with nature, plus chances to earn Green Touch hours or complete community service. Join us and participate ! Read on for more information.
International Coastal Cleanup 2026
Have you signed up for the International Coastal Cleanup yet? Join the group led by the San Juan Bay Estuary, at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, on Saturday, September 19, 2026 , from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. We will be doing a land cleanup and an underwater cleanup.
Register for the land cleanup at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve, HERE.
Several groups will be carrying out underwater cleanups. To participate in the underwater cleanup led by the Estuary, sign up HERE.
Educational Fair
While we conduct clean-up efforts in the Reserve, we will be hosting an educational fair in celebration of National Estuary Week, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. on the grounds of Jaime Benítez Park on September 19. There will be multiple information booths where you can learn about the ecosystems connected to the San Juan Bay estuary, its biodiversity, and the actions we are taking to restore and manage the health of the waters that make up the watershed.
Estuary Cinema
Estuary Cinema presents: Lilo & Stitch (2025) , in a special screening as a prelude to National Estuary Week, on Saturday, September 19 , from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Jaime Benítez Park. The film will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. Bring your chair and snacks. This screening is free.
Row with the estuary
On Sunday, September 20 , we kicked off National Estuary Week with the event, Paddle with the Estuary ; a morning of connecting with nature at the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
We'll be holding educational activities about the importance of water health at Jaime Benítez Park. Bring your kayak or paddleboard and paddle with us from 9:00 am to 11:00 am! The meeting point for participants with kayaks/paddleboards will be Jaime Benítez Park.
If you don't have a kayak or paddleboard, you can rent one from Night Kayak , San Juan Paddleboarding , or SUP Action Paddleboard, Co. , while supplies last. See more rental information at estuary.org/events
Celebrate from anywhere on the Island! If you're paddling on any other body of water on Sunday, September 20, share your photo on your favorite social network and tag us (@estuariosanjuan).
Exploring the estuary
Celebrate National Estuary Week 2026 in a big way by joining the event, Exploring the Estuary: Documenting Biodiversity in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve ; on Saturday, September 26 , from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Register today at: estuary.org/events
We will document the species using the iNaturalist app. We will divide into groups throughout the day:
[7:00 am to 9:00 am] Birds
[8:00 am to 10:00 am] Marine life
[8:00 am to 10:00 am] Plants and terrestrial life
[10:00 am to 12:00 pm] Plants and terrestrial life
[2:00 pm to 4:00 pm] Plants and terrestrial life
[4:00 pm to 6:00 pm] Birds
[6:00 pm to 9:00 pm] Nocturnal fauna
We'll also have training workshops throughout the week, where you'll learn how to identify species and use the iNaturalist mobile app. All workshops will be held via Zoom, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
[ Monday, 21 ] Getting to know the plants of the Reserve
[ Tuesday, 22 ] Getting to know the terrestrial life of the Reserve
[ Wednesday, 23 ] Getting to know the aquatic life of the Reserve
[ Thursday, 24 ] Documenting the biodiversity of the Reserve (iNaturalist)
Exploring the Estuary counts toward Green Touch and community service hours. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately. See the full schedule of events for the week and register today at: estuary.org/events.
Field experiences
Continue your Citizen Scientist Certification. Join the field experiences scheduled during National Estuary Week. Remember that these count toward Green Touch or community service hours. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, September 24 , at 9:30 am at County Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience; Sunday, September 20 , at 7:00 am at the Río Piedras Botanical Garden
Coastal Resilience Module
Field experience: Propagation of coastal vegetation; Sunday, September 20 , at 8:00 am in Loíza
Field Experience: Planting Coastal Vegetation; Saturday, September 26 , at 8:00 am at County Lagoon
Interpretive tour
Join us for the interpretive tour: Discovering the Nature of Urban Forests ; on Friday, September 25, 2026 , from 8:00 am to 10:00 am at Julio E. Monagas Park. Register today at: estuario.org/eventos
These tours count towards Green Contact hours or community service. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.
Presentation and closing discussion: The estuary is not still
Join us for the closing event and celebration of the Antonio Martorell and Friends Estuary artist residency , on Friday, September 25, 2026 , from 6:30 to 9:30 pm, at the Puerto Rico Museum of Art.
During this special evening, we will premiere the documentary and present the book that chronicles the process and experiences of this artistic residency, along with a discussion with some of its participants. We will close the evening with a cocktail reception to celebrate the culmination of this project and the encounter between art, communities, and the Estuary.
The event is open to the public, but space is limited. To participate, please complete the RSVP form.
Mat Pilates Class
Close out National Estuary Week with this Mat Pilates class led by Elizabeth Solá, owner of Mind Body Parlor , on Saturday, September 26 , from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. at Jaime Benítez Park in the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve. The Pilates method is a fitness program that incorporates strength and flexibility exercises. It is adaptable to any skill level; however, participants must be able to sit and stand from the floor unassisted.
Help us document restoration and conservation efforts in the estuary watershed
Each year, we document habitat restoration and conservation efforts implemented within the San Juan Bay estuary watershed. In doing so, we gather valuable information to support public investment in the region.
We urge all communities, organizations, or agencies that carry out restoration and conservation projects in the region to submit their projects corresponding to the period from October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026, including pending projects.
These projects are reported to the EPA and Congress. The form must be completed by September 30, 2026. We thank all the entities that are part of this effort. Access the form: HERE.
Opportunities for professional services contracts
Thank you to everyone who joined us on the recent family outing
During the family outing on Saturday, September 5, we celebrated the week of the Greater Caribbean manatee, also known as the Antillean manatee.
We started the day with a talk about our organization, our current efforts, and the projects and opportunities that volunteers have to participate in and learn about the estuarine ecosystem.
Following the talk, the artist Kaos showed us how to make linocuts. Kaos's art was based on the manatee, so the participants took home a lovely souvenir with one of the many prints she brought.
As evening approached, all participants stayed to listen to the talk “Coexisting with the Manatee,” presented by Dr. Nilda Jiménez, head of the endangered species program at the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. During the talk, we learned about the manatee, its taxonomy, diet, reproduction, habits, and what we can do to protect them. We also learned about the role the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve plays in protecting manatees on the north coast.
We concluded the activities with a tour along the southern coast of the Reserve, where we learned more about the place where the manatees live.
We finished the day trip with Cine del Estuario, where we enjoyed the film, Michael.
We appreciate the collaboration of the artist Camila “Kaos” , the San Juan municipal police for always being attentive, for patrolling and for accompanying us during the tour; we also thank Dr. Nilda Jiménez, in charge of the endangered species program, and Carmen Santiago, director of education and citizen service, both from the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.
Urban tour
On Saturday, September 12, we conducted our most recent urban tour in the County Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve.
From Jaime Benítez Park to the beach, we walked through the streets to discover how water, the city, and the estuary are connected. During the walk, we explored the local geography, its biodiversity, and the path the waters take from the city to the lagoon.
We also discussed the actions we can take from our community to contribute to the protection and quality of our water.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and shared this experience of learning and connecting with nature.
Media coverage
September 17, 2026. Manuel Guillama Capella. “We let them speak”: San Juan Bay Estuary specifically identifies areas impacted by sewage discharges. Science and Environment. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/dejamos-que-nos-hablen-estuario-de-la-bahia-de-san-juan-identifica-puntualmente-las-zonas-impactadas-por-descargas-sanitarias
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
Thanks to the volunteers who supported the bacteriological monitoring at County Lagoon on Thursday, September 10, 2026, as part of the Estuary Citizen Scientist Certification Water Quality Monitoring module. The results are below.
Assessment conducted on Thursday, September 17, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for County Lagoon. 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.
