Scientific illustrations for the SJBEP; Over $500k in media leverage; Raw sewage overflow; 16k cigarette butts picked up at Ocean Park

Our update for July 15 to July 31, 2011, is as follows:

30 original scientific illustrations created for the SJBEP: Last Thursday, July 21st, 2011, Puerto Rico’s only certified scientific illustrator, Adriana Ocaña, delivered to Javier Laureano 30 full-color, hand-drawn illustrations commissioned by the SJBEP for our ecological alphabetization campaign. The illustrations of different species of fauna and flora representative of the SJBE’s ecosystem will be placed along the 1.5 miles of Martí Coll Lineal Park, in Hato Rey, as part of our new educational exhibit. Also, her designs will illustrate our upcoming coloring book on the importance of the Estuary.

The SJBEP surpasses half-a-million dollars in leverage for the first part of 2011: The numbers are in, and we are proud to announce that for the first part of the year 2011 the SJBEP has managed to obtain $509,225.36 in leverage. Our strong presence in the media is the result of a combined effort including several public service campaigns, the publication of various articles written by members of our staff, radio and television interviews, and media coverage of the SJBEP’s initiatives.

Raw sewage overflow in the Condado Lagoon: On July 29^th, 2011, our Water Quality Program Coordinator, Ernesto Olivares, reported raw sewage overflow on the northern fringe of the Condado Lagoon. People from the community contacted local authorities due to the strong presence of raw sewage odors.

16,000 cigarette butts picked up in the Student Chapter of the Marine Environment Society’s Ocean Park cleanup: On July 23^rd, 2011, the Student Chapter of the Marine Environment Society (CESAM, for its Spanish acronym) carried out a coastal cleanup in Ocean Park Beach. They targeted cigarette butts buried in the sand and were able to pick up 16,000 of them. A total of 104 volunteer took part in the cleanup.

SJBEP’s license plate sent to 78 municipalities, and federal agencies: In the first week of July, the Governor of Puerto Rico evaluated and approved the new design of the SJBEP’s license plate. The design, showcasing a manatee, was sent to the Island’s 78 municipalities and their police agencies, including the FBI, for registration. The job has already been placed with the Department of Correction, and is on its way to its final stage of fabrication.

Guided tour for the winners of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl: Last Wednesday, July 20^th, 2011, our Water Quality Program coordinator, Ernesto Olivares, offered a guided tour to winners of the National Ocean Sciences Bowl from Marshfield High School. The trip took place in the Corozos, San José, and Torecillas lagoons. The students received a comprehensive explanation of the basic tools utilized in standard water quality inspections, and later they were able to assess water quality for themselves in three different stations of the SJBE.

EPA’s conference on citizen involvement: From the 18^th to the 22^nd of July, our outreach coordinator, Gladys Rivera, attended a seminar hosted by the EPA on special topics regarding citizen participation. Some of the key issues dealt with the workings of communicating ecological vulnerability and/or an environmental crisis to members of a given community.

Proposals for the upcoming SJBEP library catalogue: During the month of July we received several proposals for the elaboration of a digital catalogue for the SJBEP’s scientific library. The catalogue will be a useful tool that will help to make our bibliographic resources more accessible to the public. Some of the specialized books in the SJBEP’s library cannot be found anywhere else in Puerto Rico.

“Cool Cities Manual” climate change publication: On July 29^th we received the Cool Cities Manual. The manual will be printed as part of our collaboration with the Cool Cities Coalition’s climate change campaign.

SJBEP in the Dominican Republic; 30 gallons of oil recycled; New educational exhibit; Financial Single Audit; Workshops

Educational exhibit proposed by the SJBEP for the Dos Hermanos Bridge.

Our update for July 6 to July 15, 2011, is as follows:

SJBEP in the Dominican Republic: The SJBEP has been invited to participate in the International Day of Mangroves in an activity organized by the Minister of the Environment of the Dominican Republic. Javier Laureano will present the organization’s work to promote public participation in its mangrove planting campaign and will take another step to further the Latin American Federation of Estuaries. The conference is set for July 25, 2011.

Results of SJBEP’s proposal to recycle campaign reviewed in newspaper, 30 gallons of oil recycled at 4^th of July event: We want to thank the Office of the Governor and the Solid Waste Management Authority for their fine and rapid execution of our suggestion to recycle the cooking oil produced as part of the 4^th of July celebrations. Follow the link for more information:

http://www.elnuevodia.com/evitanqueaceitevayaapararalaguna-1009369.html

New educational exhibit for the Dos Hermanos Bridge designed and submitted to the Office of the Governor: Last Wednesday, July 13, 2011, Javier Laureano submitted to the Office of the Governor a new educational exhibit proposed for the Dos Hermanos Bridge. This is a unique spot where the public can experience first hand one of the Atlantic Ocean’s salt water intakes into the estuarine ecosystem.

Results of Financial Single Audit Report: We are very happy to announce that we have received another year of “no findings” in our annual Single Audit. We want to thank and congratulate our Office Manager, Cathy Ortiz, for her good bookkeeping job, as well as our CPA, Eduardo Fadhel, and our Compliance Coordinator, Zulma Sanabria.

SJBEP submits comments to USACE regarding a new pier at the San Juan Nautical Club: The organization submitted to the United States Corps of Engineers (USACE) its official comments regarding the public notice for permit application for the reconfiguration of the existing eastern pier section and the extension of the western “T” pier section. We recommended that the 0.19 acres of seagrass bed that will be directly impacted be salvaged and transplanted to an adequate alternate site. Also, the remaining 1.06 acres of seagrass beds in the area should be protected from possible impacts associated with this activity.

Workshop offered at the Santa Ana Environmental Interpretation Center: The Scientific Advisor offered a conference on the hydrological connection between the ground waters of the karst and the San Juan Bay Estuary on July 13, 2011. The activity was organized by the Outreach Coordinator and included a technical trip to this beautiful forest within the city. Approximately 20 volunteers participated in the activity.

Proposal to monitor and improve stormwater discharges into the Condado Lagoon: The SJBEP submitted to the San Juan Municipality a proposal to establish a network of stormwater monitoring stations along the Condado, Miramar, and Santurce. The proposal includes the installation of state-of-the-art equipment in the stormwater drainage system to filter oil and grease as well as other pollutants.

Estuary’s Cinema: On July 9, 2011, at 7:00pm. the organization presented another successful screening of its open air cinema project at the Condado Lagoon. On this occasion we screened several short film documentaries about mangroves as well as “The Simpsons: The Movie.”

“Sand, Sun, and Coral Reef” workshop: The SJBEP offered a workshop at the Isla Verde Coral Reef about this unique ecosystem on July 8, 2011, from 9:00am to 11:00am. We want to thank community leader Paco López for his support, and for receiving our staff and volunteers in his community.

Our First Estuarine Short Film Festival keeps receiving good press coverage: The electronic magazine 80grados.net reviewed the Festival:

http://www.80grados.net/2011/07/premian-talento-juvenil/

SAVE THE DATE

July 23, 2011, at 7:00pm: The SJBEP presents “The Fantastic Mr. Fox” and local cartoon “Manny El Manatí” (“Manny the Manatee”) at the next screening of the Estuary’s Cinema, which will take place at the Jaime Benítez Condado Lagoon Park.

Oil recycling, Short Film Festival, Melaleuca species, CCMP revision, Activity with NERR, National Ocean Policy

Our update for June 14 to June 30, 2011, is as follows:

SJBEP promotes oil recycling and planting conservation at 4^th of July event: The Government of Puerto Rico celebrated the 4^th of July on the fringes of the Condado Lagoon with several events, including concerts and the selling local food in kiosks that will be located on the southern axis of this estuarine body of water.

Javier Laureano contacted our partners in the Office of the Governor to promote an oil recycling campaign and received their immediate response. As a result, the Solid Waste Management Authority established oil-recycling centers as part of the event. The collected oil will be recycled as part of an initiative in the Jayuya Municipality, where used oil is transformed into biodiesel fuel for the agriculture industries of the island.

The Office of the Governor also authorized the SJBEP to design and place educational signs to protect the red mangrove (Rizophora mangle) planting sites of the organization located on the northern and eastern axis of the Condado Lagoon.

For more information about the biodiesel initiative follow this link:

http://www.primerahora.com/fortunoanunciainversionde$2175millonesenjayuyaadjuntasyutuado-503405.html

Educational exhibit about the SJBE’s ecosystems to be placed on the Dos Hermanos Bridge: The newly constructed Dos Hermanos Bridge, located over one of the three saltwater inlets into the SJBE, will serve as an environmental interpretation site. We will be placing educational signs to inform the public about the importance of the area and the species that live in the zone. The initiative is being coordinated between the SJBEP and the Office of the Governor.

Success for our First Estuarine Short Film Festival: On Saturday, June 25, 2011, the SJBEP presented this event, which included the screening of seven environmental short films. Four of the films received an original work of art by Jorge Zeno as an award. Click here for detailed information:

http://www.prdailysun.com/news/San-Juan-Estuary-recognizes-filmmakers

The Melaleuca invasive species removal site under control: From June 20 - 23, 2011, wetland’s specialists contracted by the SJBE Program and our Scientific Advisor, Dr. Jorge Bauzá, performed maintenance activities at the Melaleuca invasive species removal site. We observed limited growth of Melaleuca seedlings and heavy growth of native herbaceous plants that will protect and enhance (as planned) the wetland associated with the Suárez Canal.

SJBEP participates in hearing session of the National Ocean Policy: Last Thursday, June 30, 2011, Dr. Jorge Bauzá participated in a virtual meeting in which top government officials from Washington, DC, explained President Obama’s plans to promote America’s stewardship of the oceans to representatives from the National Estuary Program. For more information please follow this White House link:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/oceans/policy

New actions for the Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan of the San Juan Bay Estuary (CCMP): This week Javier Laureano revised 10 new actions submitted by contractors and sent them to the Program’s staff for further comments. The new CCMP actions will be discussed in public hearings and, after that, submitted to the Board of Directors for final approval. The original CCMP was published on August 4, 2000, and new urgent issues have emerged since then such as climate change, new invasive species, and the need to control pollution in the upper zone of the watershed and fresh water tributaries, among others.

Conservation and restoration project endorsements: On June 24, 2011, the SJBEP endorsed the designation of the Isla Verde Coral Reef Island as a marine sanctuary. This is an initiative proposed by the Isla Verde community. To date their nonprofit grassroots organization – Arrecifes Pro Ciudad – has gathered thousands of signatures in a petition letter to government representatives asking for this protective designation. The coral reefs of the Isla Verde Island are at risk due to Jet Ski and vessel impacts, as well as sedimentation and nonpoint source pollution. On June 26, 2011, the organization also endorsed the “Condado beach nourishment and artificial reefs infrastructure.” This is an initiative driven by community and business leaders of the area concerned about the serious erosion problem of this estuarine sandy beach.

New scientific newspaper article authored by our Scientific Advisor published in Puerto Rico and Argentina: A two-page article entitled “Biodiversity of the Oceans” was published by Dr. Jorge Bauzá on June 19, 2011, at El Nuevo Día newspaper. The article was also published by the Nuestromar Foundation, an ocean conservation and educational NGO from Argentina. The article can be read at:

http://www.nuestromar.org/noticias/destacados/23_06_2011/37981_la_biodiversidad_de_los_oceanos.

Benthic restoration of the Condado Lagoon: The Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Condado Lagoon Water Quality Improvement and Seagrass Restoration Project was approved and signed on June 29, 2011, by Donal Ringel, QAPP evaluator and EPA Region 2 Quality Assurance Coordinator. We want to thank Evelyn Huertas for her support during the process.

Estuary educational talk at Isla de Cabras: On the sunny morning of June 14, 2011, in Isla de Cabras, Toa Baja, thirty-six people participated in an educational talk by SJBEP's Outreach Coordinator, Gladys Rivera. As part of the event, environmental games and water monitoring demonstrations were used to show the importance of protecting our estuary. At the end of the activity, kids were asked about the new word they learned that day — “estuary” — and its meaning, and almost all were able to answer correctly. A 75% of knowledge acquisition was measured among the adults through a pre- and post- test.

Joining efforts with our National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR) sister organization: On June 29, 2011, twenty-six participants joined our Outreach Coordinator, Gladys Rivera, at the Jobos Bay’s Learning Center in Salinas. Nilda Peña and Angel Dieppa from the Education and Scientific areas of the Reserve offered an educational talk, which highlighted the differences between the SJBE and the Jobos Bay ecosystems, with special emphasis on fresh water sources. During the educational guided tour through the reserve, the group visited a salt and mud flat, a mangrove channel, and enjoyed a spectacular view of the bay and its mangrove islets. 100% acquisition of knowledge was measured by a pre- and post-test. For more information click here:

http://www.nerrs.noaa.gov/Reserve.aspx?ResID=JOB

Arts and ecology in the Piñones Forest and Nature Reserve: On June 28, 2011, a visit to this beautiful estuarine area provided an inspirational scenario for a group of kids and adolescents from the Arts Summer Camp of the Puerto Rico Contemporary Museum of Art. Gladys Rivera guided them through the mangrove forest in an educational tour, during which they learned about the mangroves and other species. A community member, Oscar Carrazco, offered a Piñones’ history talk. The activity ended with an environmental game, and participants returned to the Museum for a painting and drawing session using their estuarine tour as motivation and inspiration.

Leatherbacks, Sea level sensors, PVC tube removal from mangroves begins, Update from the Indicators Project

Photos: Saving leatherbacks, Summer Festival at the Fishermen Peninsula, Kayak Federation Open House, PVC tube removal begins

Our update for May 23 to June 13, 2011, is as follows:

Unforgettable experience: Saving leatherback turtles: In a beautiful activity at the Isla Verde Public Beach, sixteen (16) baby Leatherback turtles were liberated to the sea on June 8, 2011. Volunteers and the Department of Natural Environmental Resources (DNER) were able to save the turtles from predators following their hatching the previous day. The DNER representative, Herminio Díaz, instructed the participants on the importance of taking care of the turtle nesting areas. Leatherback sea turtles are the biggest turtles on Earth; adults can weigh more than 2,000 pounds, and are generally at least 6 feet long. Our Outreach Coordinator, Gladys Rivera, participated in the event.

Sea level sensors to be deployed by the SJBEP: On June 6, 2011, Dr. Jorge Bauzá met with Director of the USGS in Puerto Rico Pedro Díaz, USGS water and environmental sampling expert Luis Soler, and USGS Hydrologist Carlos Figueroa to evaluate site alternatives for the deployment of water level sensors. Four sites were selected based on accessibility, and on the safety of the instruments and field technicians. Moreover, the selected sites represent typical tropical estuarine water bodies. The sites chosen are San José Lagoon, San Antonio Channel, Torrecillas, and Piñones Lagoon.

Grant application and Work Plan submitted: We want to thank our Board of Directors for their collaboration in the submission of this year’s Grant application to EPA. The document includes a myriad of activities that will continue to further the restoration of Puerto Rico’s most important watershed for the economy of the island.

Kid Summer Festival at the Península de los Pescadores (Fishermen Peninsula) in the Piñones community: On Saturday, June 4, 2011, more than one-hundred children from the Afro-Caribbean community of Piñones enjoyed a Summer day coordinated by the community leaders of their neighborhood. Activities included kayak trips, music, and educational talks from agencies and organizations, including the SJBEP. Gladys Rivera and Ernesto Olivares measured a 90% knowledge acquisition about the term ‘estuary’ among participants, and recruited enthusiastic children who explained how to perform the water quality monitoring tests to adults and other children.

Epilepsy patients receive our educational talk: Eager to learn more about their environment, twenty participants of the Epilepsy Foundation Summer Camp received an educational talk from Gladys Rivera on June 10, 2011. The event included the projection of the Estuary Guardians’ short movie, and "Basura Caliente" – a game in which each participant represented a waterbody of the estuary and needed to protect that waterbody from contamination. The activity took place in William M. Acosta School in Bayamón.

Kayak Federation Open House a success!: On June 11 and 12, 2011, the Kayak Federation organized a successful event at which hundreds of participants enjoyed free kayak and canoe rides in the Jaime Benítez Condado Lagoon Park. Gladys Rivera offered talks and distributed educational flyers about the SJBE ecosystems.

National Ocean Science Bowl will visit the SJBE: The winning team from the National Ocean Sciences Bowl (NOSB) (www.nosb.org) will be visiting our estuary on July 19, 2011, as part of their prize, which includes a one-week educational visit to Puerto Rico. We will report more information as the event approaches.

Mangrove planting monitoring continues - PVC tube removal begins: As part of their school environmental program, students from the San Ignacio School will continue their red mangrove monitoring activities at our Condado Lagoon restoration site. Students have performed an assessment of the planting and identified the need to plant 100 additional seedlings. The volunteers began removing PVC tubes. The activity took place at the San Gerónimo planting site on June 9, 2011.

Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) and the Implementation Committee (ImCo) regular meetings: The STAC met at the library of the Environmental Offices Building on May 26, 2011. Key activities for next work plan were discussed. The next STAC meeting was scheduled for Thursday, August 18, 2011. The STAC welcomes Katia Avilés from the Enlace Project as a new member. The ImCo met at the Solid Waste Management Authority on May 31, 2011 at 1:00pm.

Sediments and Fish Tissue Contaminants Indicators Project - Summary of field activities completed between May 30 and June 3, 2011:

Sampling of Bottom Sediments

• Sediment samples were collected from the nine stations located within the "eastern half" of the SJ Bay Estuary (i.e., Stations 1SJB, 2SJB, 3SJB, 16SJB, 5PC, 6MP, 4RPN, 15LC, and 18LC).
• Sediment samples and one equipment blank were FedExed to Pace Analytical Laboratories in New Orleans, to comply with sample holding times.

Sampling of Fish and Crab Tissues

• Fishing (traps and nets) for Mojarra and blue crab (targeted species) was conducted for three days (June 8-10) at the five biota sampling stations located within the eastern half of the SJ Bay Estuary.
• Biota Sampling Station 6 MP (Martin Peña) had to be moved westward, as bottom anoxic conditions prevented the capture of any organisms. The anoxic conditions were evidenced by the reduction of iron oxide on the cages.

• Regarding fish:
• Fish were captured at four of the five stations (all but the 5PC Sampling Station).
• Mojarras were only present at two sampling stations (although of different species and sizes), whereas other edible fish species (snappers) were captured at the remaining two stations.

• Regarding blue crab:
• Crabs were captured at all but the Martin Peña Sampling Station.
• The minimum tissue weight required to perform all chemical analyses was not collected at the Sampling Stations.

Epidemiological study on its way: Yadiris López Rivera, a doctorate candidate from the Department of Environmental Health at the University of Puerto Rico, will begin a required graduate internship under the supervision of Dr. Jorge Bauzá. López will complete an epidemiological study about water-born diseases in the communities surrounding the Martin Peña Channel. She met with Dr. Bauzá on May 27, 2011, to discuss the objectives, approaches, and methodology of the study.

Agreement with the PR Planning Board to acquire aerial photos: We will use aerial photos to develop a new land use map for the SJBE, and to identify and quantify changes in natural resources. This map will be the basis for the development of watershed indicators. A key meeting with Yanira Valles – Remote Sensing and Image Technician from the Puerto Rico Planning Board – took place on June 2, 2011.

Abstract submitted for local symposium/ scientific talk at the Natural History Society: On June 6, 2011, Dr. Jorge Bauzá submitted an abstract for the Second Sea Escape Symposium organized by the PR Department of Natural and Environmental Resources. The title of the presentation is: “Enhancing and Monitoring the San Juan Bay Estuary: Lessons Learned in an Urban Estuary.” Also on June 6, Dr. Bauzá offered a presentation about the San Juan Bay Estuary Program to the PR Natural History Society, the oldest environmental organization in Puerto Rico.

Mentoring graduate student to analyze benthic images: Dr. Jorge Bauzá will mentor graduate student Mr. Ariel Lopez from the University Of Puerto Rico. Mr. Lopez will analyze benthic images of the SJBE submerged coastline. The objective is to characterize critical resources, such as coral reefs, that depend on what is exported from the SJBE system. The UW images were obtained through collaboration between the SJBE Program and USEPA OSV Bold. Ariel Lopez and Dr. Bauzá last met on June 8, 2011.

Revised seagrass restoration QAPP submitted to EPA: The revised Quality Assurance Project Plan for the Water Quality Improvement and Seagrass Restoration Project at the Condado Lagoon was submitted to EPA on June 13 for final approval.

New scientific article published in local newspaper: On May 29, 2011, Dr. Jorge Bauzá published in May 29, 2011 a two-page scientific article entitled “Methane: A Gas with Multiples Faces” in El Nuevo Día:

http://www.elnuevodia.com/elmetanoungasconmuchosrostros-978424.html

SAVE THE DATE

"Summer 2011 at the Estuary": This Summer we are coordinating and promoting several activities for volunteers and families. The calendar includes an agreement with our estuarine partner – the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve – to visit their facilities. Let’s enjoy the Summer and our estuaries! For a copy of the calendar, please visit our website, call 787 725 8165, or email us at: grivera@estuario.org

JUNE 25, 2011 @ 7:00PM: ENVIRONMENTAL SHORT FILMS FESTIVAL AT THE JAIME BENÍTEZ PARK

El Nuevo Día

http://www.elnuevodia.com/convocanasometerpiezasparafestivaldecortometrajesambientales-959680.html

Díalogo Digital

http://www.dialogodigital.com/index.php/Cortometrajes-por-el-ambiente-en-El-Estuario.html

80grados

http://www.80grados.net/2011/06/cortometrajes-del-estuario/

Wapa.tv

http://www.wapa.tv/noticias/entretenimiento/abren-convocatoria-de-cortometrajes_20110506144301.html

Rubén Sanchez Online

http://www.rubensanchezonline.com/portal/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=64:primer-festival-de-cortometrajes-ambientales-de-cine-del-estuario-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=62

Mi Puerto Rico Verde

http://www.miprv.com/convocatoria-para-el-primer-festival-de-cortometrajes-ambientales/

Revista Atabey

http://revistaatabey.com/blog/2011/05/09/celebraran-primer-festival-de-cortometrajes-ambientales-de-cine-del-estuario

Socio-economic study of fishermen; Redesing of educational exhibits; Fireflies night educational tour; Cleanup with AmeriCorps

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.

PR Water Monitoring Day; Key meeting with USACE; $464,683.64 in media leverage; Closing of academic year for Estuary Guardians

Pictures: Puerto Rico Water Monitoring Day; SJBEP's Environmental First Short Film Festival and Saint John's School students creating awareness on plastic bottles.

Our update from April 29 to May 12, 2011, is as follows:

1) Success story: Puerto Rico Water Quality Monitoring Day, April 30, 2011, 9am to 11am: We are very glad to announce that the event was a complete success, with over 2,000 volunteers at more than a hundred monitoring stations all over the island. This is the third year the activity has been organized by the San Juan Bay Estuary Program and sponsored by the Environmental Quality Board, EPA, Puerto Rico Water and Environment Association, Crowley Maritime Corporation, Caribbean University, CH Caribe, and the Jobos Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve.

The San Juan Bay Estuary Program receives all the collected data and reports it to the World Water Monitoring Day, contributing to a global mapping of the condition of the planet's water. Through the events, citizens are rediscovering the creeks, rivers, lagoons, and bays of the island, which constitutes the first step towards their restoration and conservation.

http://www.elnuevodia.com/monitoreodelaguaparacrearconciencia-954331.html

http://www.elnuevodia.com/celebranactividaddemonitoreodecalidaddeagua-954263.html

2) Key meeting with the US Army Corp of Engineers, Jacksonville District, for the restoration of the Condado Lagoon; Date set for 2016: Jorge Bauzá and our contractor Fernando Pagés Rangel discussed with the USACE the proposal of using the dredged sediments from the maintenance of the San Juan harbor and navigational channels to fill the Condado Lagoon depressions. The Corps set 2016 as the year to perform the restoration project in the Condado Lagoon. Also, the team discussed (a) the possibility of using sediments from La Peninsula Esperanza as capping material; (b) the San Juan Harbor dredging schedule; (c) the San Juan Harbor Mitigation Project status and alternatives; (d) the San Juan Bay Estuary Program/Condado Lagoon Restoration Project; (e) available Documentation/Studies; (f) required Documentation/Authorizations; (g) funding; and (h) future efforts. The meeting took place through a conference call on April 27, 2011, at 10:00am.

3) $464,683.64 leveraged in publicity and media placement for first quarter of 2011: Our communications assistant, José Enrique Rodríguez, recently submitted his publicity and media placement report with very good news for our organization. From January to April, 2011, the San Juan Bay Estuary leveraged near half a million dollars thanks to a team effort on media collaboration. As an example follow the link for our Outreach Coordinator’s article published in El Nuevo Día newspaper:

http://www.elnuevodia.com/laaventuradevivirlaciencia-956721.html

4) Estuary Guardians academic year’s closing activity; donation from Crowley to the SJBEP, May 7, 2011, 10am – 12pm: From a student population with very high drop-out rates, this year we have several students who have been accepted at universities and will follow careers in Science. The younger ones are using Estuary Guardians for their science fair projects, and one of our students won regional awards and traveled to Vermont to present her research in April, 2011. She received a full-page interview in a local newspaper.

The closing activity took place at the Jaime Benítez Park thanks to the sponsorship of EPA and Crowley Maritime Corporation. Students presented their achievements during the 2010-2011 academic year and received a certificate acknowledging their hard work. We want to thank Crowley for their $2,500 contribution.

5) New educational product: Isla Verde Island’s coral reef species coloring book: We are very enthusiastic about the new coloring book designed by Paco López and sponsored by the San Juan Bay Estuary Program and Arrecifes Pro Ciudad as part of this year’s EPA Grant. It has 32 beautiful pages showcasing dozens of species and natural wonders that inhabit the coral reefs of our city. Congratulations to our dear friend Paco and the wonderful job Arrecifes Pro Ciudad is doing to protect our urban coral reefs.

6) Talk to Saint John’s students at our Coral Reef Restoration Project; student-crafted plastic-bottle boats, May 2, 2011, 1pm: As part of an educational activity to create awareness among students about the amount of plastic bottles we are producing as consumers and the impact of these bottles on the marine environment, Saint John’s School invited Javier Laureano to offer a talk on the San Juan Bay Estuary. Students crafted small vessels with plastic bottles and recycled them after the event.

According to a rapid assessment before and after the talk, an average of 75% of the students were able to define the term estuary after the educational activity, from less than 15% before the talk.

7) Coors Brewing Company will join efforts with the SJBEP and make a donation to the SJBEP: For the second consecutive year, Coors Brewing Company will perform their annual environmental event with their employees and executives in coordination with the San Juan Bay Estuary Program. María Bermúdez and Vivian Dávila met with Javier Laureano on May 5, 2011, to coordinate the event, which will take place on September 10, 2011.

8) Another student begins her internship at the SJBEP: We want to welcome Janice Santiago from the University of Puerto Rico to our organization. Santiago will be developing several ecotourism materials and scripts as part of a 210-hour internship, which she began on May 12, 2011.

9) Technical meeting on the Caño Martín Peña’s Feasibility Study: A meeting with the corporation ENLACE Caño Martín Peña was conducted to address technical issues regarding the feasibility study for the Caño Martín Peña ecosystem restoration project. Some items discussed included the bathymetry of the San Jose Lagoon bottom depression, sediments disposal and deployment alternatives, water circulation models, and channel dimensions dredging alternatives. The meeting took place at ENLACE on April 28, 2011, at 10:00am.

SAVE THE DATE:

May 14, 2011 at 7:00pm- Estuary's Cinema at the Condado Lagoon Park

"Midnight Summer Dream" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfk3IO7sn54

May 19, 2011 at 6:00pm-9:00pm "Noche de cucubanos" at the Parque Monagas