Estuario Weekly Update
This week we recognize and celebrate the mothers of our estuarine communities—caregivers, educators and leaders who, with their example, sow environmental awareness and collective commitment. At the San Juan Bay Estuary Partnership (SJBEP), we continue to work for a healthier and more resilient environment, with activities that reflect that same spirit of care and connection with nature. Thank you for joining us in this collective effort.
Family Day at the Condado Lagoon
Despite the rains, the SJBEP held the usual Family Day on Saturday, May 3, 2025. The activities began at 3:00 p.m., where we had an educational talk about the endemic birds of Puerto Rico. We were joined by 13 participants.
After the talk, the participants carried out a bird census in the Reserve, with the SJBEP education team. They learned basics for bird identification and tips for easily locating them in wooded areas.
Unfortunately, due to inclement weather, the activities Macramé para Mamá and Cine del Estuario were canceled and postponed for an upcoming Family Day.
We thank Taller Aurora for their willingness and collaboration, and the administrator of the Jaime Benítez Park, José Ramos, for his support during the activities. The next Family Day will be on Saturday, June 7, 2025.
Amigos de la Laguna meeting
The SJBEP invites all neighbors, users and friends of the Condado Lagoon Natural Estuarine Reserve to the next meeting of Amigos de la Laguna, on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Blue Lagoon event hall of the Jaime Benítez Park.
The meeting will have a virtual space through Zoom. Get your access link, in estuario.org/eventos.
Discovering our endemic birds
The SJBEP invites you to the educational activity for children (ages 6+): Discovering our endemic birds; on Saturday, May 24, 2025, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. in the San Patricio Forest, as part of the Caribbean Endemic Birds Festival. This activity is valid for Contacto Verde hours. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Sign up today, at estuario.org/eventos.
Educational activities for summer camps
This summer, the SJBEP will offer educational activities for camps, focused on conserving 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].
Event for the blind at Jaime Benítez Park
On Saturday, April 26, the SJBEP shared a talk with the Children and Blind Foundation of the Leones Distrito 51 Centro club. The talk revolved around the Condado Estuarine Natural Reserve and its flora. Participants were able to smell and feel the plant samples and learn about their usefulness and some basic concepts for species identification. We thank Dagmar Colón for supporting this initiative.
Coastal Resilience Field Experiences
As part of the Coastal Resilience module of the Estuario Certification for Citizen Scientists, with a focus on the mangrove ecosystem, students from the Robinson School, led by their teacher, Maryam Vázquez, collected red mangrove seeds and carried out a cleanup in the Península de los Pescadores, in Piñones, on Thursday, April 24, 2025. They also transplanted seedlings of green buttonwood, black mangrove and beach bean, and processed red mangrove propagules into pots.
On Saturday, April 26, students from the Marist School of Guaynabo planted coastal vegetation in Playa Piñones, led by teacher Zayra La Puerta. The students planted about a hundred specimens of green buttonwood, sea grapes and cocoplum.
We are delighted to see our youth’s commitment to the ecological restoration of coastal ecosystems and bodies of water connected to the San Juan Bay Estuary (SJBE). Each action adds to the strengthening of our coasts and the development of a new generation of environmental leaders.
Certification for Citizen Scientists
Here are the activities for the coming weeks. See more information in estuario.org/ccc.
Participatory Bird Census Module
Field experience: Participatory bird census; 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
Coastal Resilience field experience; Ecological assessment of coral reefs; Saturday, May 17, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Coastal Resilience field experience; Ecological assessment of seagrasses; Saturday, May 17, from 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Coastal Resilience Workshop: Ecological Restoration of Dunes and Mangroves; Thursday, May 22, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom
Coastal Resilience field experience; Ecological assessment of coral reefs; Saturday, May 24, from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Condado Lagoon
Coastal Resilience field experience; Ecological assessment of seagrasses; Saturday, May 24, 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 8, 2025. We have a GREEN flag for the County Lagoon. However, we recommend avoiding areas that exceeded the “Beach Action Value” water quality parameter of 70 CFU/100 ML. Remember to avoid the water during rain events.
