Estuario Weekly Update
This week we share more opportunities for action, training and community building in benefit of the restoration and management of the waters connected to the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE); from the next family day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve, the opportunity to run in a 5K designed to connect you with nature and Certification for Citizen Scientists workshops and field experiences, to professional growth opportunities. Keep reading!
Family Day
Don’t miss the next Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve, on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Jaime Benítez Park. This month we celebrate our mothers and the endemic birds of Puerto Rico. See the schedule of activities at: estuario.org/eventos. Some activities count toward Contacto Verde or community service hours.
Cine del Estuario
Cine del Estuario presents: Zootopia 2; on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. at the Jaime Benítez Park 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.
Estuario 5K at Jardín Botánico
Join a race like no other, carried out entirely within the grounds of Jardín Botánico de Río Piedras!
You will walk along trails, appreciating nature and listening to the singing of birds under the shade of centuries-old native trees. The route is perfect for runners and walkers of all levels. There will be a 1K segment for kids.
The second edition of the Estuario 5K will be on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at 7:00 a.m. at Jardín Botánico de Río Piedras, in San Juan.
The Estuario 5K is carried out with the endorsement and close collaboration of Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Puerto Rico.
5K: Running with our youth
San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP) invites you to support the 5K Corriendo con nuestra juventud, on May 9, 2026, at Amelia Waterfront, Guaynabo.
Event Details:
- Date: Saturday, May 9, 2026
- Time: 6:00 A.M.
- Departure point: Roundabout – Amelia Waterfront, Guaynabo
Investment:
- 5K overall: $30 (includes shirt and medal)
- 1K children (8 to 10 years old): $15 (includes shirt and medal)
For more information, call 939-206-4358.
Professional Services Contract Opportunities
Bird census
On Saturday, April 25, as part of the Jardín Botánico de la Universidad de Puerto Rico’s Earth Day celebration, 28 volunteers explored and documented the diversity of birds in this urban natural space. The activity counted as a field experience for the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists’ Participatory Bird Census module and kicked off the Caribbean Endemic Birds Festival, which runs until May 22.
Seed collection
On Saturday, April 11, 12 citizen scientists participated in a field experience in Peninsula de los Pescadores in Piñones, as part of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists’ Coastal Resilience module. They collected about 1,500 red mangrove propagules, directly contributing to future coastal ecosystem restoration efforts.
The activity combined orientation, interpretive tour and fieldwork, allowing participants to learn about the importance of mangroves and their role in the protection of our coasts. Thank you for your commitment to the well-being of our coasts!
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities for the coming weeks. Remember that the workshops and field experiences count toward Contacto Verde or community service hours, as applicable. See more information and register, at: estuario.org/ccc
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Water Quality Monitoring Workshop: Bacteriological monitoring; Tuesday, May 12, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Field Experience: Bacteriological Monitoring; Thursday, May 14, at 9:30 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Participatory Bird Census Module
Participatory Bird Census Workshop; Tuesday, May 5, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Field experience; Saturday, May 9, at 7:00 a.m. at the Piñones State Forest
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Workshop on Characterization and Reduction of Microplastics; Thursday, May 7, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Field experience; Saturday, May 9, at 9:00 a.m. at San Juan Bay
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrasses; on Wednesday, May 6, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, May 9, at 8:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, May 9, at 12:00 p.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, May 16, at 8:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, May 16, at 12:00 p.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Weekly water quality monitoring
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, April 30, 2026. We have a GREEN flag for the Condado Lagoon. However, 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.
