Estuario Weekly Update
Estuarine greetings! Below, we share with you the actions carried out in benefit of the restoration and management of the waters connected to the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) and invite you to be part of the learning and volunteering activities scheduled for the coming weeks. Keep reading!
Urban trails: Discovering the connections between the city waters and the estuary
Join the upcoming trails highlighting the urban bodies of water connected to the SJBE. We will explore their importance, the connection of their waters with the city and the actions we take to protect them. We will have the following tours:
On Saturday, June 27, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., in Jaime Benítez Park of the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve
On Thursday, July 2, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., in Old San Juan
These urban trails will count toward Contacto Verde or community service hours. All minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately. Register today, at: estuario.org/eventos.
Join us at the Recycling Pop-Up in Loíza
This Saturday, June 20, 2026, we return to the Recycling Pop up in Loíza. Stop by our informative table, learn about the campaign, Deja una huella limpia en Piñones, learn 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 the Miguel Fuentes Pinet Park. Plastics rated #1, #2 and #5, aluminum, brass and corrugated cardboard are accepted.
Professional Services contract opportunities
Bird census carried out in Las Curías
A group of citizen scientists, including Scout leaders, supported the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP)’s most recent participatory bird census at Lake Las Curías on Sunday, June 14. This field experience was part of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists’ Participatory Bird Census module.
We thank all the people who joined. Congratulations to those who completed their certification with this experience! Learn more about the Participatory Bird Census module, the Citizen Scientist Certification and scheduled activities, in estuario.org/ccc.
Protecting our coasts with green infrastructure
The following actions were carried out as part of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists’ Coastal Resilience module, with a focus on the ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves.
Seed collection
Six volunteers, including high school students, collected around 567 red mangrove seeds for propagation and future planting, at Península de los Pescadores in Piñones, Loíza, on Saturday, May 23. We finished with an interpretive tour, where we discussed the ecological importance of mangroves and the purpose of this collection to further coastal restoration efforts.
Planting of coastal vegetation
Nine volunteers planted around 465 red mangrove propagules in the strait bordered by the Baldorioty de Castro expressway on the Condado Lagoon’s southern coast on Saturday, May 30. As part of the activity, additional propagules were collected to propagate and use in future plantings.
Maintenance of Vivero Estuario
On Sunday, May 31, three volunteers transplanted red mangrove seeds and seedlings and carried out maintenance work at Vivero Estuario, located in Centro TAU, Loíza. They propagated about ten trays for use in future plantings and cleared and weeded areas in and around the nursery.
We thank all the citizen scientists who supported these actions for the protection of our coasts and congratulate those who completed their certification.
Learn more about the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists’ Coastal Resilience module, in estuario.org/ccc. Check out the activities we have scheduled for the coming weeks, below.
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities for the coming weeks. Remember that these workshops and field experiences count toward Contacto Verde or community service hours. All 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: 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
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Workshop on Characterization and Reduction of Microplastics; Tuesday, June 23, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Coastal Resilience Module
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
Brenda Torres Barreto. June 16, 2026. La oportunidad detrás de la crisis. Opinión. El Nuevo Día. p.19.
Brenda Torres Barreto. June 15, 2026. La oportunidad detrás de la crisis del agua. Punto de vista. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/opinion/punto-de-vista/la-oportunidad-detras-de-la-crisis-del-agua/
Melanie Ortíz Álvarez. June 14, 2026. Invitan a vista pública sobre plan decenal. Puerto Rico Hoy. El Nuevo Día. p.13.
José E. Maldonado Marrero. June 14, 2026. Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan convoca a vista pública sobre el plan de manejo de aguas. Ambiente. Ey Boricua. Web. https://eyboricua.com/estuario-de-la-bahia-de-san-juan-convoca-a-vista-publica-sobre-el-plan-de-manejo-de-aguas/
Melanie Ortíz Álvarez. June 13, 2026. Convocan a la ciudadanía a vista pública sobre nuevo plan del Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan. Ciencia y Ambiente. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/ciencia-ambiente/otros/notas/convocan-a-la-ciudadania-a-vista-publica-sobre-nuevo-plan-del-estuario-de-la-bahia-de-san-juan/
Prepare for Hurricane Season
This 2026 hurricane season, SJBEP urges you to be prepared. Download the Community Hurricane Preparedness Guide and follow its recommendations. Protecting your community starts at home.
Also visit the Estuario Virtual Community Hub, where you’ll find vital information such as relevant emergency numbers and instructions for preparing emergency backpacks.
Don’t be scared! Get prepared.
Weekly water quality monitoring
Thanks to the volunteer who supported the bacteriological monitoring on Thursday, June 18, 2026, as part of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists’ Water Quality Monitoring module. Up next, the results.
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, June 18, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for the Condado Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the coastal area that exceeded the water quality parameter “Beach Action Value” for 70 CFU/100 ML enterococcus. Remember to avoid water during rainy events.
