Estuario Weekly Update
A message from our Executive Director:
The next few weeks will be one of pure celebration for the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP). From exercising 5 kilometers in the botanical garden of Río Piedras to celebrating Earth Day lying on the grass watching movies under the stars. In addition to this, there are projects that are being developed together with Puerto Rican government agencies, the federal government and the eight municipalities through which water flows into the San Juan Bay Estuary system. The SJBEP is a science-based non-profit organization that serves as a catalyst and facilitator to achieve these projects at the regional level. They are all part of our efforts at an individual and collective level. I invite you to support us to achieve the sustainability of the metropolitan region of San Juan.
Estuario 5K at Jardín Botánico
The time has come! The first Estuario 5K will be this Sunday, March 23, 2025, from 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Jardín Botánico de Río Piedras. Thanks to everyone registered for your support!
We continue handing out the runner’s shirts and numbers at the “En La Meta” store, located at: 408 Avenida de la Constitución, San Juan. We’ll be there Saturday, March 22, 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, which is conveniently located steps from the botanical garden. The building’s location is at Carr. 8839 km. 6.3, Sector, San Juan. Runners must arrive 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.
The route of the Estuario 5K is unique. It was designed by Godofredo “Godo” Rivera and approved by Freddy Rodríguez, who is the technical director of the Estuario 5K. We thank both for their support and great solidarity with our organization. This event is carried out with the endorsement and close collaboration of the Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Puerto Rico. We thank Aerostar, Ferraiuoli, Paulson Puerto Rico, Strong, Motorambar and El Angel Ice Plant, for their support in achieving this 5K. Thanks also to the Municipality of San Juan for the support with ambulances and boxes for garbage collection.
Support the SJBEP with your Refund
This new filing season, consider donating your refund to the actions of eliminating sanitary discharges to bodies of water loved by all, such as the Condado lagoon and beaches. You also support the restoration of the San Juan Bay, 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 Special Fund for the San Juan Bay Estuary”, which—for individuals and corporations—you will find on line 1B of the “Refund” box on page 1 of your return.
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 Estuary in estuario.org/donar/.
Water Quality Day of Puerto Rico
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 of Ford Environmental Donations and their commitment to Puerto Rico’s environment.
Estuario family day
The next family outing in the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve will be on Saturday, April 5, on the grounds of the Jaime Benítez Park. As part of the Water Quality Day of Puerto Rico, we will be conducting monitoring activities at 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Later, we will have a sports activity, educational games related to the theme of water quality, an interpretive walk through the Reserve, a trivia and Estuary Cinema. Certain activities may be validated for Contacto Verde or community service, as applicable. See more information at: estuario.org/eventos.
Cine del Estuario
Cine del Estuario presents: The Wild Robot; on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jaime Benítez Park of the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve. This feature is free of charge. The film will be screened in Spanish, with English subtitles. No registration is required. Bring your blanket or chair!
Workshop on practices and resources for recycling in Piñones
Restaurant, business or local owner: the SJBEP invites you to learn about the resources and alternatives to reduce and recycle materials in your business.
Join us for a recycling practices and resources workshop, focused on the communities of Piñones, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. at the La Torre community center, in Loíza. We’ll cover topics of diversion of plastic, aluminum and brass, corrugated cardboard and other materials, such as vegetable oil.
This workshop is part of the community campaign, Deja una huella limpia en Piñones, in collaboration with LimPiaR. See you there!
Field Experiences for the Coastal Resilience Module
On Saturday, March 8, 2025, a planting of coastal vegetation and reinforcing of previous plantings was carried out at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve with students and teachers from Escuela Marista of Guaynabo.
The volunteers planted around 614 specimens of various species of coastal vegetation, including red mangrove, white mangrove, black mangrove and button mangrove.
Six days later, on Friday, March 14, planting at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve continued with students and teachers from the American Military Academy. On this occasion, citizen scientists planted about 600 specimens of white mangrove, black mangrove and red mangrove.
Both plantings counted as field experience of the Coastal Resilience module of the certification of citizen scientists of the Estuary. See more information about the Coastal Resilience module, at: estuario.org/ccc.
Participatory bird census
On Sunday, March 9, 2025, we carried out the most recent field experience of the Participatory Bird Census module of the Estuario certification for citizen scientists, at Parque Central de San Juan.
Among birds endemic to Puerto Rico, native and resident, a total of 333 individuals of 43 species were observed.
We thank all the citizen scientists who participated—and congratulate the first group of students of the biological sciences courses of the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus who completed their certification.
The workshops and field experiences of the Participatory Bird Census module are held every month. See more information in estuario.org/ccc.
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information in estuario.org/ccc.
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field experience; on Monday, March 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Lago Las Curías and Río Piedras
Field experience; Tuesday, March 25, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the San Juan Bay
Field experience; on Wednesday, March 26, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Laguna San José
Field experience; Thursday, March 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience; Friday, April 4, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera/Balneario El Escambrón
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Workshop of the Characterization and Reduction of Microplastics module; Thursday, April 3, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Coastal Resilience Module
Workshop of the Coastal Resilience module: Dunes and mangroves; Thursday, March 27, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
See more information at: estuaario.org/ccc.
Media coverage
March 20, 2025. Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan invita a unirse al Día de Calidad de Agua. Ciencia y Ambiente. El Nuevo Día. Web. https://www.elnuevodia.com/ciencia-ambiente/otros/notas/estuario-de-la-bahia-de-san-juan-invita-a-unirse-al-dia-de-calidad-de-agua/
Weekly water quality monitoring
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, March 20, 2025. We have a GREEN flag for the Condado Lagoon. We recommend avoiding the area that exceeded the “Beach Action Value” water quality standard of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid the water after precipitation events.
