Scientists and boats will be working in Condado Lagoon as the Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan starts field studies for a project to curb shoreline erosion, El Nuevo Día reported Thursday.
“We’ll see boats, scientists working in the lagoon,” Estuario executive director Brenda Torres Barreto said. “These scientists will gather important data for design development.”
Five preliminary sites have been identified along the lagoon’s southern shore, near Jaime Benítez National Park. The studies cover shoreline erosion, sediment movement, sea levels and mangrove habitat.
El Nuevo Día reports that Phase 1, covering studies, design and permits, has a $6.7 million grant, and that $5.2 million has been identified for Phase 2 construction, pending approval. Phase 2 would use a hybrid of natural and structural measures.
Estuario leads the effort with the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Transportation, the San Juan Municipality and the Central Recovery Office. The project began May 28 with community meetings on erosion that has persisted since Hurricane María in 2017. The first community meeting, at Jaime Benítez Park, invited people who use the Paseo Román Baldorioty de Castro to describe the erosion, flooding, access and habitat conditions they see, according to the Estuario’s weekly update.
Related coverage: New Monitoring Station Brings Real-Time Water Data to Condado Lagoon (a separate effort)
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Sources: El Nuevo Día; Estuario de la Bahía de San Juan
