Pictures: Monitoring technical trips with volunteers organized by our Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Coordinator, Ernesto Olivares; and field documentation of the Socio-economic study of the fishermen of the San Juan Bay Estuary, being conducted by Olviares and university interns.
Our update from May 13 to May 23, 2011, is as follows:
1) Socio-economic study of the fishermen of the San Juan Bay Estuary: Contractor Ernesto Olivares has been working on a study to better understand of our fishermen, their experiences, and their concerns as some of the main users of the ecosystem. To date he has been doing research at the following fishing villas and fishermen cooperatives: Puerta de Tierra, Cataño, Puntilla, Punta Andín, Vietnam, Piñones Fishermen Cooperative, and the San Juan Fishing Center. The study also includes informal fishing sites, and to date research has been conducted at Puente Dos Hermanos (San Antonio Canal), and under the bridges of the Baldorioty Avenue (Suarez Canal) and PR-187, located at Boca de Cangrejos (Torrecillas Lagoon).
2) Water Quality Monitoring Program: In May, contractor Olivares will finish this fiscal year’s second-quarter water quality report. We are currently changing the platform of our website in order to have more space and to be able to publish all monitoring data. The next monitoring events will occur as follows:
Tuesday, May 24, 2011 – Río Piedras river stations.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 – Shore stations from Cataño to Laguna Piñones.
Thursday, May 26, 2011 – San José Lagoon.
Friday, May 27, 2011 – San Juan Bay.
3) Latest scientific newspaper article by Dr. Bauzá in El Nuevo Día: Last Sunday, May 22, 2011, Dr. Bauzá published a new 2-page, full-color scientific article on the Caribbean Sea as a source of energy. Follow the link:
http://www.elnuevodia.com/elmarcaribefuenteinagotabledeenergia-972338.html
4) Special newspaper article on the Condado Lagoon in El Vocero: Also on Sunday, May 22, 2011, we received a full-page newspaper article on the projects the Program performs at the Condado Lagoon and all the activities the Lagoon supports (kayaking, pedal boats, yoga, Estuary’s Cinema, among others). We thank Georgie Vega for this very good idea for an article, and her work to make it happen.
5) Redesign of the Martí Coll educational exhibit almost ready: The Martí Coll Linear Park receives over 200,000 users per year. As part of our current Work Plan we are redesigning the existing educational exhibit of the Estuary – originally installed in 2006 – in the same location. We are revising the final details of the new art in order to proceed with the production and installation of the new panels.
6) Baldorioty de Castro coral reef educational exhibit installed thanks to tax return contributions: Our most visible educational exhibit was vandalized a few months ago, but thanks to the contributions of citizens to our Special Fund through their tax returns, we were able to place new educational modules. The exhibit is part of our ecological literacy campaign and focus on coral reefs.
7) Fireflies (Cucubanos) night at the Santa Ana Forest: Last Thursday, May 19, 2011, we offered our volunteers a guided tour in a magical night full of fireflies. We want to thank environmental interpreter Dayaniris Candelario and Director Eliezer Nieves.
8) Cleanup, planting, and water quality monitoring at La Esperanza with AmeriCorps: As part of the events related to AmeriCorps Week, Gladys Rivera organized a planting event and water quality monitoring with Corredor del Yaguazo at La Esperanza island in the San Juan Bay. Other partners for the activity were the Volunteers Office from the Office of the Governor, and GWorks. This part of the ongoing restoration and enhancement project at this barrier island took place on Friday, May 20, 2011.
9) SJBEP at the Puerto Rico Water and Environment Association Conference: Last Thursday, May 19, 2011, Dr. Jorge Bauzá and Javier Laureano offered a presentation on the SJBEP’s Water Quality Monitoring Program at this key conference, which took place at the Convention Center.
SAVE THE DATE (for additional info. please call 787 725 8165):
Fishermen Peninsula Community Festival – Saturday, June 4, 2011: In Piñones, this family-oriented event is geared toward children from the community. We are one of the proud yearly partners of this event, which includes rafting trips, planting, arts and crafts, and many other activities.
Kayak Federation Festival – Saturday, June 11 and Sunday, June 12, 2011: At this two-day event devoted to water sports and related activities at the Condado Lagoon Park, the SJBEP will have an educational table with information and water monitoring kits.
SJBEP’s Fish Census – Saturday, June 18, 2011: This activity will take place at our reefs trail in front of the Conrad Hotel from 9am to 11am. Please, bring your scuba or snorkeling equipment. Thank you!
First Estuarine Short Films Festival – June 25, 2011: The festival will take place beginning at 7:00pm, in the Condado Lagoon Park. We invite filmmakers to submit their work by sending a DVD copy to: P.O. Box 9509 San Juan, PR 00908. Please, bring your own chairs.
This place is cool and interesting. I want to travel in this place and see it in person. Thanks for sharing this with us.
ReplyDeleteKirstz @ educational tours Philippines