A Successful February 2024 Family Day at the Condado Lagoon
On Saturday, February 3rd, we held the monthly Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve. 12 people participated in the frisbee activity with Traveling Chains PR, 13 people in the interpretive tour through the Reserve with our education team, 36 people in the open-air workshop on marine ecosystems, and 98 people in the Cine del Estuario feature presentation.
We thank everyone who joined us, Pizzeria 188, for bringing their delicious pizza to the event, Traveling Chains PR for providing the frisbee game, the San Juan Municipal Police, for their cooperation, and the Jaime Benitez Park administrator, José Ramos, for his collaboration during the event.
Until next time!
Employment opportunities
Estuario Project Coordinator—Monitoring – The Estuario Project Coordinator- Remote Monitoring will support the installation of a data buoy remote water quality monitoring system at various locations throughout the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed. The Project Coordinator will also support the Scientific Director with the development of a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for data collection of the remote water quality monitoring system, which will be submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for approval. The Project Coordinator will visit the fixed stations for maintenance at least monthly, carry out monitoring events according to the EPA approved QAPP.
Project Evaluator – Under this project, the Project Evaluator will be expected to develop an ongoing storyline of the Juan Méndez Creek restoration process to document and communicate project efforts, project achievements, and impact to various audiences. This contract position will work under the supervision of the Executive Director.
Estuario Internship Opportunity—Stakeholder Education & Awareness – The interns will support the development of educational campaigns and community and municipal recycling programs, as these are essential to improve the quality of the habitat, enhance the aesthetic, recreational, and economic values of the SJBE, and help ensure that the estuary system and its watershed is free of aquatic waste.
Capacity Building & Facilitation. Services (Request for Proposal) – The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) seeks qualified applicants to work at Capacity Building Services. 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.
Citizen Science & Education Manager – The Citizen Science and Education Manager is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the Estuario’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.
Web Development/Maintenance & GIS Services – This website contractor will support the integration of the technology being developed into the website and the development of any GIS analysis needed. The contractor will work in close collaboration with the current website contractor who maintains the Estuario.org. The maps created will be accessible to the public via Estuario.org. This contractor will be supervised by the Executive Director.
Webpage Design – The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (Estuario) is seeking qualified applicants to design a separate landing page that can be accessed from Estuario.org for the Juan Mendez Creek Restoration Project. This Service Provider will work closely with the current website contractor, providing UI services to design a landing page that will present the project and its trajectory.
Green Infrastructure Specialist – The Green Infrastructure Specialist would lead discussions with relevant stakeholders to align interests and develop partnerships in green infrastructure, urban forestry, and reforestation projects. This will support the development of strategies related to urban forestry, nature-based solutions, restoration, and coastal resilience efforts to advance reforestation and green infrastructure-based solutions.
Stakeholder & Engagement Coordinator – The Stakeholder and Engagement Coordinator will focus on facilitating and coordinating engagement between the various partners, collaborators, and stakeholders within local, state, and federal agencies, NGOs, academia, and business leaders in the private sector to implement the CCMP.
Stakeholder & 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 serves as a liaison for various external working groups.
Ve todas las oportunidades disponibles en: estuario.org/empleos
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the events scheduled for the next two weeks. See more at estuario.org/ccc.
February 13 – Thematic workshop: Restoration of dunes and mangroves; with Andreína Alexatos, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom
February 17 – Field trip: planting coastal vegetation for dune restoration; with Andreína Alexatos, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Loíza
February 18 – Field Trip: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; with Daritzel Cintron, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Playita del Condado
February 18 – Field Trip: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; with Daritzel Cintron, from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Playita del Condado
February 20 – Thematic Workshop: Identification and Census of Marine Fishes; with Daritzel Cintrón, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. via Zoom
Other activities
On Saturday, February 3, 2024, as part of the Community Fair at Taller Comunidad La Goyco, the campaign Que no toque el piso ni llegue al agua—initiative to improve the management of solid waste and the conservation of water resources through Loíza Street—recognized the volunteers who have supported its many efforts. On this occasion, the campaign wanted to recognize those volunteers, neighbors and collaborators for their effort and commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment.
Those who have participated in the massive activities (Tito Matos Fest, Christmas Lighting, etc.), diversion of materials (organic, glass, oil, batteries, cardboard, aluminum), members of Machuchal Limpio, the team of Taller Comunidad La Goyco, collaborators in general, neighbors who have labeled their garbage containers, workshop workers, the group of plena Candela and others were recognized. To more than 150 people, we say: Thank you, for supporting the conservation of natural resources, public health, and our water bodies!
As part of the Fair’s calendar was the workshop “Collilleros” #quenolleguealagua, by José Luis Gutiérrez, from Taller Comején. We also appreciate the efforts to divert organics and glass that take place at the Fair, on the first Saturday of every month.
On Thursday, February 8, 2024, our Estuario Project Officer, Sofía Burgos Caraballo, PhD, together with Chemical Engineer and Lawyer Florabel Toro, met with sixth, seventh, and eighth grade students of the Leonicio Meléndez school in Las Piedras, as part of the event Soy mujer, soy ciencia, soy STEM.
In dialogue with the students, the guests shared their experiences, motivations, difficulties and successes as professional women in science. The activity ended with a recognition from all the students of the school for Puerto Rican women scientists.
We would like to thank Lourdes Cancel, Mirma Berríos and Nelson Sánchez, who organized the event.
Support us with your tax refund
Through your individual contribution in 2024, support the Estuario with your tax return refund. Look for the option “Contribution to the Special Fund for the San Juan Bay Estuary“, on line 1B of the “Refund” box. Read more, here.
Weekly water quality monitoring
Evaluation conducted on Thursday, February 8, 2024. We have a RED flag for the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve. We recommend avoiding the areas that exceeded the Beach Action Value water quality parameter for enterococci of 70 CFU/100 ML. Have a good weekend!
