Estuario Weekly Update
This week, we share with you more opportunities for community participation, learning, and action in favor of the restoration and conservation of the waters connected to the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE). See upcoming events, initiatives, and collaborations available below.
Acknowledgements—5K del Estuario en el Jardín Botánico
Last Sunday, May 17, 2026, the second edition of 5K del Estuario was held at Jardín Botánico de Río Piedras, an event designed to connect with nature and educate about the importance of green infrastructure for the health of our waters.
We thank the sponsors: Jardín Botánico de la UPR; Para la Naturaleza; Motorambar, Inc.; Aerostar; Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER); PR Aqueducts and Sewers Authority (PRASA); Municipality of San Juan; Universidad de Puerto Rico; STRONG Physical Therapy & Performance and Nutri Gals.
Thanks to the designers of the route: Godo, Freddy Rodríguez, technical director of 5K del Estuario and Freddy ‘s Runners.
Thanks to the collaborators: En La Meta Running Store and Signs Factory Workshop.
Thank you also to all the volunteers who supported us, to the concessionaires and members of the educational fair, to our master of ceremonies, Eyra Agüero and above all, THANK YOU to all the runners who participated! It wouldn’t have been possible without you.
Until next time!
First Community Meeting for the Condado Lagoon Coastal Erosion Mitigation Project
On Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. we will hold the first community meeting of the Condado Lagoon Coastal Erosion Mitigation Project. The meeting will take place at the Jaime Benítez Park and is an open space to listen from those who know the place best. To develop the solutions, we need to learn from the communities, users and organizations that frequent the Paseo Román Baldorioty de Castro about the conditions they observe daily: erosion, flooding, access and habitat. No prior preparation is required. Hope to see you there!
Coral Reef Week
From May 30 to June 6, the DNER will celebrate Coral Reef Week 2026, highlighting coral ecosystems throughout Puerto Rico and actions for their conservation. This year, the motto of this event is “Life in the Coral, Life in the Archipelago”.
San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP) joins the celebration, with several activities aimed at exploring and learning about these fascinating ecosystems. See more details and register today, at estuario.org/eventos.
Join the workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrasses, part of the Coastal Resilience module of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists, on Tuesday, June 2, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. virtually through Zoom.
Come to the Underwater Tour: Discovering the coral world in an urbanized space; Thursday, June 4, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at Condado Lagoon. Explore coral reefs, marine plants, and the species that depend on these ecosystems, while learning about their conservation and ecological importance.
Participate in the Coral Reef Ecological Assessment at the Condado Lagoon, a field experience of the Coastal Resilience module of SJBEP’s Certification for Citizen Scientists, on Saturday, June 6, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. You will collect information essential to track the health and evolution of this ecosystem of the Reserve.
All three activities count toward Contacto Verde or community service hours for students. Any minor must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.
Interpretive tour in the Condado Lagoon
SJBEP invites you to the interpretive tour: Birds and trees in the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve; on Saturday, June 6, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at Jaime Benítez Park. Walk, observe and connect with this natural space in the middle of the city. You will discover the birds and trees that give life to this ecosystem connected to the waters of the SJBE. This interpretive tour counts toward Contacto Verde or community service hours. Minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately.
Actions for the reduction of aquatic waste
In the SJBE watershed.
Call for volunteers for recycling stations at Tito Matos Fest 2026
SJBEP invites you to participate as a volunteer at the diversion and recycling stations for materials in the fourth edition of Taller Comunidad La Goyco’s Tito Matos Fest, on Saturday, June 20 and Sunday, June 31, 2026. This effort is part of the community campaign, Que no toque el piso ni llegue al agua.
Choose a shift and register HERE.
Tito Matos Fest commemorates the life, work, music, art and community activism of Tito Matos, a great friend, collaborator and neighbor of the SJBEP. The support at the recycling stations during this event will count as field experience for the Microplastic Characterization and Reduction module of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists.
Recycling Pop-Up in Loíza
Last Saturday, May 16, SJBEP was present at the Recycling Pop-Up in Loíza, with an educational table focused on highlighting the campaign: Deja una huella limpia en Piñones, the efforts of correct diversion of used vegetable oil of the Municipality of Loíza and the importance of conserving our waters and gray infrastructure.
The Recycling Pop-Up in Loíza takes place on the third Saturday of each month, at the Miguel Fuentes Pinet Park. This event is organized by LimPiaR, TAIS and the Municipality of Loíza. Materials accepted are plastics #1, #2 and #5, aluminum, brass and corrugated cardboard.
Professional Services Contract Opportunities
Come to the SJBE CCMP Review Community Presentations and Discussions
As part of the public review and comment process of the new SJBE Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan (CCMP), we invite you to one of the presentations and community discussions that we will carry out throughout the watershed.
These spaces have the purpose of sharing the priority problems and actions proposed in the five action plans that make up the new CCMP, focused on:
Water Infrastructure
Estuarine Ecosystems
Integrated Waste and Material Management
Adaptation of the SJBE System
Fostering the Culture of Integrated Management
We seek to hear your questions, recommendations, and feedback as part of the participatory process of the CCMP review. Come to the meeting closest to you:
Thursday, May 28, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. | TAU Center, Loíza <📍🗺️>
Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at 7:00 p.m. | Rafael “Pipo” Negrón Activity Center, Toa Baja <📍🗺️>
We are deeply grateful to all the organizations, community leaders, and collaborators who are making these spaces for dialogue and citizen participation possible.
Soak up in information before the presentations and discussions. View the documents available for public comment, at estuario.org.
Workshop for interpreters
On Saturday, May 2, a group of tour guides and environmental interpreters participated in the workshop: Birds of estuarine ecosystems: techniques to create meaningful experiences.
The workshop provided an opportunity to review the common birds in the different ecosystems of the SJBE watershed, heritage interpretation techniques, and the importance of examining the connections between birds and water quality in these urban ecological systems.
We are grateful for the collaboration of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company for validating the contact hours for continuing education of the guides, and to Birds Caribbean for sharing part of the educational materials as part of the Caribbean Endemic Birds Festival.
Bird census carried out in Piñones
On Saturday, May 9, a group of citizen scientists conducted a bird census at the Piñones State Forest, as part of “Global Big Day,” an event coordinated by Cornell University’s Lab of Ornithology and the Caribbean Endemic Bird Festival.
They documented the diversity of birds that inhabit this urban and coastal forest, as a field experience for the Participatory Bird Census module of the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists.
We are grateful for the collaboration of biologist Herminio Díaz, forest management officer, and the support of all those who joined us. Congratulations to those who completed their citizen scientist certification with this experience!
See more workshops and field experiences from the SJBEP Certification for Citizen Scientists, below.
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Below are the activities for the coming weeks. Remember that workshops and field experiences count toward Contacto Verde or community service hours. Minors must be accompanied by an adult, who must register separately. See more information and register, at: estuario.org/ccc
Water Quality Monitoring Module
Field experience: Physical-chemical parameters; Monday, May 25, at 8:30 a.m. at Las Curías Lake and the Piedras River
Field experience: Physical-chemical parameters; Tuesday, May 26, at 9:00 a.m. at San Juan Bay
Field Experience: Physical-chemical parameters, on Wednesday, May 27, at 8:00 a.m. at Laguna San José/La Torrecilla
Coastal Resilience Module
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological restoration of dunes and mangroves; Thursday, May 28, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Field experience: Planting coastal vegetation; Saturday, May 30, at 8:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon Estuarine Nature Reserve
Field Experience: Coastal vegetation propagation; on Sunday, May 31, at 8:00 a.m. at Vivero Estuario, TAU Center, Loíza
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Assessment of Coral Reefs and Seagrasses; Tuesday, June 2, at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom
Weekly water quality monitoring
Evaluation carried out on Thursday, May 21, 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.
