Estuario Weekly Update
Greetings! Below, we share the events, initiatives, and training and collaboration opportunities programmed in benefit of the waters, ecosystems and communities connected to the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Support the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership with your Refund
This new filing season, we urge you to donate your refund to the actions to eliminate sanitary discharges to bodies of water loved by all, such as the Condado Lagoon and beaches. You will also support the restoration of the San Juan Bay, the canals that connect the lagoons of the San Juan metropolitan region, and management projects for this important ecosystem.
Look for the option “Contribution to the San Juan Bay Estuary Special Fund,” located in line 1B of the “Refund” box of your form.
This method is possible thanks to Act 48 of 2009, which establishes the Special Fund for the San Juan Bay Estuary.
Learn about the different methods available to donate to the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP) in estuario.org/donar/.
Estuario 5K at Jardín Botánico
We’re almost there! The first Estuario 5K will be on March 23, 2025, at Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We are grateful for the overwhelming support that this event has received; We sold out!
Regarding the collection of the number tags and t-shirts, you can get yours at the store En La Meta, located at: 408 Ave. Juan Ponce de León, San Juan. Delivery days and hours are Thursday and Friday, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Reserved parking for participants and volunteers is at the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources building, which is conveniently located steps from the botanical garden. Its location is at Carr. 8839 km. 6.3, Sector, San Juan. Participants must be at the site prior to the start of the race, which is scheduled to start at 7:00 a.m. The children’s race is scheduled to start at 8:15 a.m. The raffle will take place at 8:30 a.m.
Participants will need to bring their own water bottles and snacks. We will offer three (3) oases over the course of the 5 kilometers. This race is plastic-free, so there will be no plastic bottles in the oases.
The Estuario 5K is carried out with the endorsement and close collaboration of Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. We thank Aerostar, Ferraiuoli, Paulson Puerto Rico and Strong for their support in achieving this first 5K.
Estuario 5K Volunteers
We are looking for volunteers to support the Estuario 5K race, from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on March 23, 2025. The volunteers of the event will receive a T-shirt and will have reserved parking, in the DNER building, steps from the event. Four hours of community service will be validated.
There will be a meeting for 5K volunteers on Wednesday, March 19 at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom, where we will discuss the route and support tasks.
Sign up today to volunteer for the Estuario 5K, in estuario.org/eventos.
Water Quality Day
The largest participatory science event on the Island is back! Create your group, choose a body of water and join the seventeenth Water Quality Day of Puerto Rico, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
During the Water Quality Day of Puerto Rico, you’ll assess the conditions of your chosen body of water, obtain data from your observations, and submit the results. The SJBEP will provide the necessary materials for you to carry out your evaluation, all free of charge. We will provide training workshops during the month of March, in various locations throughout the Island and virtually.
We appreciate the continued support from Ford Environmental Donations and their commitment to Puerto Rico’s environment.
Global Recycling Day
Global Recycling Day, which will be celebrated on March 18, is a key date for the SJBEP, as it reinforces the importance of waste reduction and recycling as fundamental tools for the conservation of our water bodies and ecosystems.
Pollution of solid waste, especially plastics, poses a threat to the biodiversity of the San Juan Bay Estuary, affecting water quality and the health of species that depend on this ecosystem. Encouraging recycling not only helps minimize the amount of waste that reaches our waters—it also promotes a culture of environmental responsibility in our communities.
The SJBEP works with several recycling initiatives as part of its Aquatic Debris program. The community campaigns, Que no toque el piso ni llegue al agua and Deja una huella limpia en Piñones, have managed to unite the residential and commercial sectors of the communities of Calle Loíza and Piñones, respectively, instilling responsible waste management practices in line with the island’s public policy. Likewise, through collaboration with other entities and community groups, we facilitate the correct disposal of used cooking oil in multiple residential regions of the Metro Area.
On Global Recycling Day, the SJBEP reaffirms its commitment to environmental education and collective action to protect our natural resources and ensure a more sustainable future. Learn more about the SJBEP’s integrated resource and waste management initiatives, at: estuario.org/desechos-acuaticos.
International Day of Forests
The International Day of Forests, celebrated on March 21, was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 2012 to highlight the importance of all types of forests and to encourage conservation and reforestation initiatives globally. Each year, this date focuses on a particular theme that underscores the crucial role of forests in the life of the planet, from mitigating climate change to providing water and biodiversity. The theme this year is: “forests and food.”
This celebration takes on special relevance within the Urban Forest Network and the green infrastructure initiatives of the SJBEP, which promote the protection and restoration of natural spaces in urban environments. These forests are not only home to biodiversity, but also improve air quality, regulate temperature, and reduce the impact of floods.
On the International Day of Forests, we invite you to visit one of the Urban Forest Network’s spaces. Learn more about them, including location, schedules and present flora and fauna, by accessing the digital version of the Pasaporte de la Red de Bosques Urbanos, at: estuario.org/pasaporte.
World Water Day
Every March 22, the SJBEP celebrates World Water Day. It was established by the United Nations in 1993, to raise awareness of the importance of freshwater and the need to manage it sustainably. Each year this day has a specific theme that highlights global challenges related to access to drinking water, sanitation and water resource conservation. The theme this year is: “Save Our Glaciers.”
World Water Day is a key opportunity to highlight the importance of protecting and restoring water bodies in the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed. Pollution, urban development and climate change pose threats to water quality in the region, affecting both biodiversity and the health of its communities. Through initiatives to reduce illicit discharges, green infrastructure, water quality monitoring, and environmental education, the Estuary works to ensure that this vital resource is conserved and managed sustainably. This day reminds us that every action counts and that by protecting our waters, we ensure a healthier and more resilient future for all.
Request for Proposal
Estuario is looking to engage professional consultants to design and execute an education campaign on the importance of proper disposal of oil and other materials across the San Juan Bay Estuary watershed.
See the RFP here: https://estuario.org/empleos/entry/13104/
Bird census at Jardín Botánico
On March 4, 2025, students from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus conducted a bird census at Jardín Botánico de Río Piedras, as part of the requirements to obtain their citizen scientist certification in the SJBEP’s Participatory Bird Census module.
We thank Professor Carlos Ayarza, for integrating the Participatory Bird Census module into his course at the Faculty of General Studies CIBI: Climate change, Caribbean ecological systems, and promoting research and monitoring topics among his students.
The workshops and field experiences of the Participatory Bird Census module are held once every month. You can find more information at: estuario.org/ccc.
Media coverage
March 12, 2025. Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan invita a donar reintegros para apoyar restauración de cuerpos de agua. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/ciencia-ambiente/otros/notas/estuario-de-la-bahia-de-san-juan-invita-a-donar-reintegros-para-apoyar-restauracion-de-cuerpos-de-agua/
March 11, 2025. Estuario invita a donar parte del reintegro para restauración de cuerpos de agua. EyBoricua. Web. https://eyboricua.com/noticias/ambiente/estuario-invita-a-donar-parte-del-reintegro-para-restauracion-de-cuerpos-de-agua/
Weekly water quality monitoring
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, March 13, 2025. We have a RED flag for the Condado Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the areas that exceeded the “Beach Action Value” water quality standard of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid bodies of water after rain events.
