Estuario Weekly Update
Greetings! Below, we share events, initiatives, and training and collaboration opportunities programmed in benefit of the waters, ecosystems and communities connected to the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE).
Estuario 5K at Jardín Botánico
On Sunday, March 23, over 700 runners joined the first Estuario 5K, walking the trails of Jardín Botánico de Río Piedras and adding steps for the restoration and management of the waters of the Metropolitan Area of Puerto Rico.
We extend our thanks to Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, for its close collaboration in providing this natural space; to Plaza Las Americas, Motorambar, Paulson Puerto Rico, Strong Physical Therapy & Performance, Ferraiuoli and Aerostar, for their key support; to En La Meta, for the support in handing out numbers and shirts, El Angel Ice Plant, for offering the necessary ice for medical support, to the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, for providing parking and to the Municipality of San Juan, for supporting us with ambulances and waste disposal.
Our most sincere thanks to Freddy, from Freddy Runners, who, as technical director of the Estuario 5K, developed this race through the beautiful botanical garden of the University of Puerto Rico in Río Piedras. Thanks to his experience and contribution, the runners enjoyed a unique route, surrounded by nature and designed to highlight the beauty of this environment. His commitment and dedication made this an unforgettable experience. Thank you for being part of this race for the restoration and management of our waters!
Thank you to every runner and volunteer, for being a part of this event and for showing that together, we can protect and restore our waters. For access to clean and secure water for all!
Water Quality Day of Puerto Rico
Eight days to go! The seventeenth Water Quality Day of Puerto Rico will be on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at a body of water near you. Are you ready?
If you didn’t get your water quality assessment kit, no problem. Join one of the stations open to the public, where you can join other citizen scientists and be part of this initiative. Choose the location that’s most convenient for you on the event portal: estuario.org/diadecalidaddeagua.
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 are still providing training workshops, 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.
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/.
Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve
Join us for the next Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve, on Saturday, April 5, 2025, on the grounds of Parque Jaime Benítez. We will have the following activities:
[9:00 a.m.] Water Quality Monitoring Educational Activity – Celebrate the seventeenth Water Quality Day of Puerto Rico at the Condado Lagoon, where there will be a water quality evaluation station open to the public. Learn how this monitoring is carried out and why it is important (it can be validated for Contacto Verde or community service).
[10:00 a.m.] Water Quality Monitoring Educational Activity (Contacto Verde/Community Service)
[2:00 p.m.] Sports activity – we will have a badminton game
[3:00 p.m.] Educational games related to water quality – learn while enjoying educational games.
[4:30 p.m.] Interpretive Walk: The Water of the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve – We will guide you on an interesting hike, where we will learn about the interconnectivity between water and the city (Contacto Verde).
[5:30 p.m.] Water Quality Trivia at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve – Test what you learned on the hike (Contacto Verde).
All activities are free of charge. No registration is required. Some activities may be validated for Contacto Verde or community service time, as applicable. Don’t miss it! Join with your family and friends.
Cine del Estuario
Cine del Estuario presents: The Wild Robot; on Saturday, April 5, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. at Parque Jaime Benítez of the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve. The film will be screened in Spanish, with English subtitles. This feature is free of charge. Bring your blanket or chair!
Interpretive tour in the Urban Forest Network
On Saturday, March 15, 2025, the SJBEP offered an interpretive tour with the theme “Discovering the nature of urban forests” in Parque Julio E. Monagas, Bayamón. During this experience, our environmental interpreters guided the participants through paths in an urban forest located in the region of El Carso, where they had the opportunity to connect with the history, flora, fauna and learn about how this natural space interacts with the waters of the SJBE.
We thank everyone who was part of this adventure in nature, especially the youth and scout leaders of Troop 505, who contributed to making this tour an even more special experience.
There will be more interpretive tours in the urban forests of our estuarine watershed. We will announce the dates through our social networks and weekly update.
Parque Julio E. Monagas is part of the SJBEP’s Urban Forest Network. Learn more about the network and its green spaces, in estuario.org/pasaporte.
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information in estuario.org/ccc.
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience; on Friday, April 4, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera and Balneario El Escambrón
Participatory Bird Census module workshop; on Thursday, April 10, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Characterization and Reduction of Microplastics module workshop; Thursday, April 3, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
See more information at: estuario.org/ccc.
Media coverage
March 24, 2025. Éxito rotundo del primer 5K del Estuario en el Jardín Botánico de Río Piedras. Ambiente. Ey Boricua. Web. https://eyboricua.com/noticias/ambiente/exito-rotundo-del-primer-5k-del-estuario-en-el-jardin-botanico-de-rio-piedras/
March 24, 2025. Exitosa la primera edición del 5K del Estuario en el Jardín Botánico. Deportes. NotiCel. Web. https://www.noticel.com/deportes/20250324/exitosa-la-primera-edicion-del-5k-del-estuario-en-el-jardin-botanico/
March 23, 2025. Celebran primer “5K del Estuario”. Telemundo Puerto Rico. https://youtu.be/eoYvvQsW0Mg
Weekly water quality monitoring
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, March 27, 2025. We have a GREEN flag for the Condado Lagoon. All stations resulted within the “Beach Action Value” water quality parameter of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid water during rainy events.
