Estuario Weekly Update
An estuarine greeting! This week, we held conversations with members of our collective to go into detail about the problems we will address in the next 10 years, as well as the goals we will set for ourselves to be more effective. These discussions are continuing as part of the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE) Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan revision. Everyone can be part of this conversation, keeping an eye out for announcements on our website. We also held meetings throughout the metropolitan region of San Juan to define risks and talk about mitigation measures with community leaders, municipalities with their own risk management plans, and professionals in the field of emergency management. We urge everyone to be careful in the face of the torrential rains that are expected for these upcoming days. Remember that, if it rains, rainwater flows into lagoons, streams and beaches, impacting water quality. We invite you to continue to be an active part of this collective effort for the restoration and management of the precious water resource that is the SJBE system.
Family Day
Join us for the next Family Day at the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, starting at 2:00 p.m. at the Jaime Benítez Park. We will have recreational and educational activities for the whole family, including opportunities to accumulate Contacto Verde time for students. Check out the activities we will have at: estuario.org/eventos. See you there!
Cine del Estuario
Cine del Estuario presents: Wonka; on Saturday, May 3, 2025, 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!
Educational activities for summer camps
This summer, the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP) will offer educational activities for camps, focused on the conservation of our waters. The experiences are aimed at groups of 30 participants and will be coordinated by appointment, from Monday to Friday during the months of June and July. Form your group to get the space.
The meetings will be held in natural spaces, such as the Jaime Benítez Park, the Piñones State Forest, the Julio E. Monagas Park and the UPR Botanical Garden in Río Piedras, with topics of biodiversity, ecosystems, water quality, green infrastructure and coastal resilience.
To coordinate, email us at: [email protected].
Estuario joins the 3rd Environmental Festival of Península de Cantera
The SJBEP was present with its information table at the third Environmental Festival of the Cantera Peninsula Community Project, on Friday, April 25, 2025. We had the opportunity to share with the community information about our vegetable oil diversion program, as well as our water quality monitoring efforts. About 35 people approached us to learn about the initiatives of the SJBEP. We thank Península de Cantera for their invitation.
Estuario celebrates Earth Day with young students
As part of the commemoration of Earth Day, the SJBEP visited the Sotero Figueroa Specialized School in Science and Mathematics, where two educational workshops were offered to intermediate level students.
The activity, which took place at 10:00 a.m., brought together about 45 students between fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth grade. The first workshop was aimed at a group of approximately 25 students, and the second was aimed at a group of 20 students.
Both workshops addressed the issue of the correct diversion of used vegetable oil, its negative impacts when not handled properly, and the environmental benefits of its collection and correct disposal.
We thank the school community for opening their doors to us and continuing to sow environmental awareness from their classrooms.
Interpretive tour in Piñones
Last Sunday, April 27, the SJBEP completed the second interpretive tour of the series: Discovering the nature of our urban forests; at the Piñones State Forest. During the tour, participants discovered the stories of this natural space, its connection to the waters of the SJBE and the biodiversity of the region.
As we entered the mangrove, we reflected on the importance of protecting these spaces and the ecosystem services they provide us, and how essential collaboration between communities is for the restoration and co-management of these lungs of urban vegetation.
We thank everyone who was part of this interpretive experience in the estuarine nature. The interpretive tours and educational experiences will continue in the green spaces of the Urban Forest Network of the SJBE. You can find them at: estuario.org/eventos.
Students Become Certified as Citizen Scientists in Coastal Resilience
Over the past few months, several school groups successfully completed the Coastal Resilience module, as part of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists.
We congratulate the students of Colegio San Antonio, American Military Academy, Escuela Secundaria Montessori de Cupey, CeDIn—Escuela Laboratorio de la Universidad Interamericana Recinto Metro, Robinson School and Colegio Marista de Guaynabo, for their participation in field experiences, educational workshops and concrete actions for the protection of our coastal ecosystems.
Their commitment strengthens the network of environmental leaders in the SJBE watershed and demonstrates the transformative power of environmental education. Congratulations, citizen scientists!
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities scheduled for the coming weeks. See more information in estuario.org/ccc. Remember that we offer community and Contacto Verde hours.
Participatory Bird Census Module
Participatory Bird Census Workshop; Thursday, May 8, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Field experience; Saturday, May 10, from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the Piñones State Forest
Microplastics Characterization and Reduction Module
Workshop on Characterization and Reduction of Microplastics; Thursday, May 15, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological assessment of corals and seagrasses; Tuesday, May 13, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs; Saturday, May 17, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Field Experience: Ecological Assessment of Seagrasses; Saturday, May 17, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Ford Environmental Donations Call
If you are a nonprofit, Ford Environmental Donations will distribute $85,000 to select environmental community projects in Puerto Rico. The application is now open, until Friday, May 30, 2025.
Apply today, at: https://donativosambientalesford.com
Weekly water quality monitoring
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, May 1, 2025. We have a RED flag for the Condado Lagoon. We recommend avoiding all the areas that exceeded the “Beach Action Value” water quality parameter of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid water during rain events.
