Our update from August 1 to August 15, 2011, is as follows:
1) SJBEP’s Executive Director interviewed as part of an investigative media report about the Martín Peña Channel: Javier Laureano had the opportunity to once more emphasize the SJBEP’s view on the importance to the Metropolitan Area and to Puerto Rico of the dredging and rehabilitation of the Martín Peña Channel. The report was published in August 12, 2011, to read it please follow the link:
http://www.prensacomunitaria.com/ambiente/desarrollo-sustentable/1023-terribles-consecuencias-si-no-se-prioriza-el-dragado-del-cano-martin-pena
2) Results of the Second SJBEP Volunteers Survey: Our Outreach Coordinator, Gladys Rivera, conducted a survey among the SJBEP’s volunteers to measure several public participation indicators. The following are the most important results:
Female volunteers: 69.6%
Age: 45-60 years (34%); 35-44 years (25%)
Employers: Private sector (44%); public sector (23%); students (24%)
Preferred volunteer activities: Planting (62%); Water Quality Monitoring (49%)
How the volunteers first learned about the SJBEP: Internet (30%), Friends or family (27%); Newspaper (26%); TV (15%)
Preferred hobbies: Visiting beaches, coves, and parks (72%); Other local tourism and attractions (65%); Movies (52%)
Preferred time to devote to volunteer activities: Saturday morning (62%)
Transportation used to attend SJBEP activities: Auto (90%)
3) SJBEP to contract three persons from the community to construct berms in the Capetillo’s creeks: A berm “is a man-made mound of earth.” The organization will contract several persons from the Capetillo community to construct berms that will redirect the flow of two small creeks in order to improve water quality. Javier Laureano met with representatives from Capetillo on August 12, 2011, to discuss the activity. The project will be finished by September 30, 2011.
4) Oral History Interview of Eloísa Salvá: As part of the SJBEP’s ongoing Estuarine Oral History Project, Javier Laureano interviewed Mrs. Eloísa Salvá, who is a descendant of the original owners of several pieces of land in the Miramar neighborhood. One of the streets of the community was named in her family’s honor. Mrs. Salvá has a vivid memory of the tides of the Condado Lagoon and all the living organisms of the body of water, including its seagrass beds. The interview took place on August 2, 2011, at 2:00 pm in Mrs. Salvá’s home. We want to thank her and her family for the opportunity.
5) Important meeting with the Puerto Rico Society of Certified Public Accountants: We began our annual campaign to promote contributions through tax returns to the SJBE’s Special Fund. One of our top target groups is the membership of the CPA’s Society. Javier Laureano met with the Society’s Executive Director, CPA Edna I. Jiménez, and their President, CPA Rubén Rodríguez, to present the mission and main achievements of the SJBEP. We are glad to announce that the Society will help us promote the tax return contributions through their membership. The meeting took place August 4, 2011, at 12:00 pm.
6) SJBEP at Agenda Ciudadana (Citizen’s Agenda) Press Conference: The SJBEP attended the press conference on August 11, 2011 to announce the new cycle of Agenda Ciudadana. This is an interdisciplinary initiative through which civil society, the private sector, and the government discuss current issues together and present ideas and proposals for solving problems in areas such as Health, Education, and the Environment. The initiative, coordinated by the nonprofit educational organization CAPEDCOM, is hosted by El Nuevo Día newspaper. Our organization has been participating in the Agenda Ciudadana meetings for the last year.
http://www.elnuevodia.com/dialogotransectorialsobremedioambiente-830181.html
7) Data collected by the SJBEP to be used by US Congress: Last week the PR Environmental Quality Board requested the water quality data collected by the SJBE Water Quality Volunteer Monitoring Program as part of their 303 (d)/305 (b) Integrated Report. The document consists of a water quality inventory and a list of impaired waters. All states and regional jurisdictions of the United States must comply with this requirement. This valuable information is used by EPA to inform Congress about the progress made at the national level toward the achievement of the statutory water quality goals established by the Federal Clean Water Act.
8) Dr. Jorge Bauzá selected as a member of the Scuba Dog Society’s Board of Directors: The Scuba Dog Society leads the local efforts of the International Coastal Clean Up. Puerto Rico is one of the leading participants in the event thanks to the participation of over 14,000 volunteers. Furthermore, the Society organized an underwater cleanup of aquatic debris. The SJBEP has been a partner and sponsor of the Scuba Society since its foundation. Dr. Bauzá was officially presented as a new member during the Board of Directors ordinary meeting held on July 21, 2011.
9) SJBEP participates in the “Celebration of Oceans” event: Our Scientific Advisor, Dr. Jorge Bauzá, offered a presentation entitled: “Enhancing and monitoring the San Juan Bay Estuary and its submerged spaces: Lessons learned from an urban estuary.” The symposium was hosted August 5, 2011, by the PR Department of Environmental and Natural Resources as part of the Celebration of the Oceans week of activities.
10) Estuary’s Cinema: Last Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 7:00 pm at the Condado Lagoon Park, the SJBEP presented the movie “The Dolphin: Story of a Dreamer”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qb8IRFjzN4
Save the Date:
8/18 – Scientific and Technical Committee Meeting: To take place August 18, 2011, in the Library of the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources.
8/24 – Citizen Advisory Committee’s Meeting: CAC’s meeting will take place August 24, 2011, at 5:30 pm in the Juana Matos Community, Corredor del Yaguazo’s facilities. Be part of the decision making of our organization!
8/27 – Fish Census: To take place at the SJBEP’s Coral Reef Trail of the Condado Lagoon, in front of the Condado Plaza Hotel.
