Estuario Weekly Update
Estuarine greetings! Below, we share with you the activities and opportunities for training and volunteering scheduled for the coming weeks, in benefit of the restoration and management of the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) hydrographic system.
CCMP Review
The San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP) is in the process of revising the SJBE Comprehensive Conservation Management Plan (CCMP), a document that advances the mission of restoration and management of the waters connected to the SJBE for the next ten years. From April 16 through June 16, we are in the process of receiving feedback on the final drafts of the five action plans:
- Water Infrastructure
- Estuarine Ecosystems
- Integrated Waste and Material Management
- Adaptation of the SJBE System
- Fostering a Culture of Integrated Management
You can view the documents and submit your comments, HERE.
Presentations and discussions
We are also presenting these drafts and hearing feedback directly from communities across the SJBE watershed. We thank the municipalities of Cataño, Guaynabo, San Juan, Loíza, Toa Baja and Trujillo Alto, who have hosted several conversations.
The next discussion will be:
On Monday, June 15, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. | Parque Lineal Río Bayamón in Santa Rosa (49 C. 22, Bayamón, PR 00959)
Thank you to all the organizations, community leaders, and collaborators who are making these spaces for dialogue and citizen participation possible.
Join the Public Hearing
The public hearing will provide an open space to listen to comments and recommendations before finalizing the new plan. We invite community leaders, organizations, and the public to participate.
Tuesday, June 16, 2026
From 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
At the College of Engineers and Land Surveyors of Puerto Rico in Hato Rey (500 Calle Ing. Antolín Nin Martínez, San Juan, PR 00918) with virtual space via Zoom.
Get the Zoom access link, HERE.
Remember that the documents for review are HERE.
You can send your comments through this sheet or by email to: [email protected]
To depose (virtual or in-person) on June 16, register HERE.
Actions for the reduction of aquatic waste
In the SJBE watershed.
Trujillo Alto Environmental Fair
SJBEP will be present at the Municipality of Trujillo Alto’s Environmental Fair, on Saturday, June 13, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. There will be environmental talks, educational tables, a butterfly farm, an animal farm, artisans, recycling of electronic equipment, a farmers’ market and more. Look for our educational table and learn about the initiatives and actions we carry out in benefit of the conservation of your communities’ bodies of water.
Recycling Pop-Up in Loíza
On Saturday, June 20, 2026, we return to the Recycling Pop up in Loíza. Stop by our table, learn about the campaign Deja una huella limpia en Piñones, about the importance of conserving water and gray infrastructure and the efforts of the Municipality of Loíza’s used vegetable oil diversion program.
The Recycling Pop-Up is organized by LimPiaR, TAIS and the Municipality of Loíza. It takes place on the third Saturday of each month, at Parque Miguel Fuentes Pinet. Plastics #1, #2 and #5, aluminum, brass and corrugated cardboard are accepted.
Volunteer call for recycling stations at Tito Matos Fest 2026
We invite you to participate as a volunteer at the materials diversion and recycling stations in Taller Comunidad La Goyco’s fourth Tito Matos Fest, on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 21, 2026. This effort is part of the community campaign, Que no toque el piso ni llegue al agua.
Choose a shift and register HERE.
Tito Matos Fest commemorates the life, work, music, art and community activism of Tito Matos, a great friend, collaborator and neighbor of the SJBE. The support at the recycling stations during this event will count as field experience of the Certification Fore Citizen Scientists’ Microplastic Characterization and Reduction module.
Professional services contract opportunities
Thank you for joining us for the June 2026 Family Day
Thank you to everyone who was part of the Family Day on June 6th! On this occasion, we celebrated World Oceans Day. We had educational talks, where we provided information about our institution and the initiatives and actions we carry out for the restoration of the waters connected to the SJBE, including information about the new remote water quality monitoring system and the marine life that inhabits the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve.
There were games and treasure hunts through the Jaime Benitez Park botanical trail, where the participants learned about the importance of the flora of the Reserve for the quality of the water and the oceans. We culminated with the Cine del Estuario, where more than 50 people enjoyed the screening of the movie, Sonic 3.
We are grateful for the support of Arelys López, from the University of Puerto Rico, Edward Hernández, SJBEP Remote Monitoring Coordinator, and Sahid Rosado, SJBEP Education Manager, during the activity.
The next Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve will be on Saturday, July 11, 2026.
Interpretive Tour in Condado
On Saturday, June 6, 2026, a group of participants enjoyed the interpretive tour: Birds and Trees of the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve. During this outdoor experience, they discovered how trees and birds coexist in this important urban ecosystem, the relationships between the two, and why protecting this Reserve also means protecting the habitat that supports a great diversity of wildlife.
Between the song of the Turkish pigeon and other birds, the graceful flight of the brown pelican over the lagoon and the shade of trees steeped in history, we explored fascinating tales about our flora and winged fauna. We also reflected on how our daily actions can contribute to the conservation of these natural spaces that enrich our quality of life.
Thank you to all the people who joined us and shared this morning of learning, observation and connection with nature. It was a truly special experience!
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities for the coming weeks. Remember that all workshops and field experiences count toward Contacto Verde or community service hours. Minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately. See more information and register, at: estuario.org/ccc
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, June 18, at 9:30 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Physical-chemical parameters; Thursday, June 18, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Field Experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; Monday, June 22, at 8:30 a.m. at Las Curías Lake and the Piedras River
Field Experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; Tuesday, June 23, at 9:00 a.m. at San Juan Bay
Field Experience: Physical-chemical monitoring; Wednesday, June 24, at 8:00 a.m. at Laguna San José/La Torrecilla
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, June 25, at 9:30 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience; Sunday, June 14, at 7:00 a.m. at Las Curías Lake
Coastal Resilience Module
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Wednesday, June 17, at 8:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, June 20, at 8:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, June 20, at 12:00 p.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; Thursday, June 25, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Field Experience: Seed Collection; Sunday, June 28, at 8:00 a.m. in Piñones
Media coverage
June 12, 2026. Aviso de Vista Pública. Puerto Rico Hoy. El Nuevo Día. p. 13.
Prepárate esta temporada de huracanes
En esta temporada de huracanes de 2026, el Estuario te exhorta a estar preparado. Descarga la Guía de Preparación Comunitaria para Huracanes y sigue sus recomendaciones. La protección de tu comunidad comienza en tu hogar.
Visita también el Centro Comunitario Virtual del Estuario, donde encontrarás información vital, como números de emergencia relevantes e instrucciones para preparar mochilas de emergencia.
¡No te alarmes! Prepárate.
Weekly water quality monitoring
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, June 11, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for the Condado Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the areas that exceeded the “Beach Action Value” water quality parameter for 70 CFU/100 ML enterococci. Remember to avoid the water during rain events.
