Test Results for December 7th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org
Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results for November 30th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org
Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results for November 24th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org
Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results for November 16th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org
Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results for November 9th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org
Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results November 2nd 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results October 26th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results October 19th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results October 12th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Abstract Submitted to ASLO

 In February 2011 the American Society of Limnology and Oceanography (ASLO)
will be holding an Aquatic Science meeting in San Juan, PR.  This conference will be bringing together the world's leading scientists in fresh and marine water systems and will include 94 sessions detailing different aspects of those disciplines known as Limnology and Oceanography.  Our chapter has submitted an abstract to present in Session 90 titled "Biological Contamination of Puerto Rican Streams and Coastal Waters: Sources, Fate, Monitoring, and Predictive Modeling."  Below is the abstract we submitted summarizing our water quality monitoring program within the 180 word limit.  If our abstract is accepted we will be notified in December.  Fingers crossed!


Title
A COMMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAM FOCUSING ON FECAL POLLUTION MONITORING AND SOURCE IDENTIFICATION ON THE NORTHWEST COAST OF PUERTO RICO  

Abstract

A 17 month survey conducted in 2007⁄09 evaluated the level, frequency and distribution of fecal contamination of coastal recreational waters in Rincón, including those harboring endangered coral species within the Tres Palmas Marine Reserve.  Weekly monitoring of 12 popular beaches along 18km of coastline showed two distinct trends: once local area rainfall was factored out 5% of the 74 testing dates showed transient Enterococci peaks with more than 75% of stations reporting colony forming units (CFU) >150⁄100ml of water suggesting marine current transport; and 3 stations nearest freshwater outflows were >35 CFU⁄100ml, the federal standard for recreational waters, 15-25% of the survey, indicating possible contamination from freshwater sources.  Currently, an expanded monitoring program shows freshwater stations to be >400 CFU⁄100ml 75% of the testing period with certain stations consistently testing >1000 CFU⁄100ml.  Investigation of transport vectors, and monitoring, will continue since such elevated levels of contamination could impose serious health risks to both resource users and the environment, including coral reefs.  For that reason, source identification is a top priority towards solution-based implementation of watershed restoration.

    
For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results October 5th 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results September 28th

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results September 21st

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results September 14th

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results September 7th

Volunteers for Clean Water

The chapter of SF Rincon would like to thank Andria Pena and Astrid Varela for their help this week collecting samples at the Balneario and Steps beach, and additionally for their help in the lab.  Your help is greatly appreciated!

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results 8 24 2010

 
For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results 8 17 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results 8 10 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 8 3 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 7 27 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 7 20 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 7 13 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 7 6 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 6 29 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 6 22 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 6 15 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 6 8 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org Surfrider Foundation Rincon

posted by wessley merten

Test Results 6 1 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org

Surfrider Foundation Rincon





posted by Wessley Merten

Test Results 5 25 2010

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org
Surfrider Foundation Rincon



posted by Wessley Merten

Test Results 5 18 2010

Steve Tamar, the director of Blue Water Task Force associated with Surfrider Foundation Rincon, loads the 'Ultimo Brinco' sample into the quanti-tray sealer machine in preparation of incubation. Samples are collected and analyzed every Tuesday by Steve and a host of other volunteers.

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org

Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Test Results 5 11 2010

We would like to thank La Paz Yoga and Pilates studio in Rincon, PR, Roderick and Beth Rogers, and Rescate Playas Isabela for becoming 'Partners for Clean Water' and 'Adopting a Beach.' Your generous donations unites us as stronger advocates for clean water and allows us to continuing sampling local and regional water sources to investigate sources of land-based sources of pollution.


For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org

Surfrider Foundation Rincon

Adopt-a-Beach!

Surfrider Foundation Rincon's ‘Adopt-a-Beach’ Program

Synopsis - As part of Surfrider Nationals campaign ‘Know your H20’ and Blue Water Task Force Program, Surfrider Foundation Rincón is working to improve regional water quality by monitoring local fresh water outflows, streams/rivers, wells, and beaches for fecal contamination. However, we need monetary help in order to achieve our mission, goals, and objectives. Your business can help our chapter, the community, and the region by contributing to our program by ‘Adopting a Beach or Quebrada.’

Mission - To improve regional water quality.

Goal - To monitor freshwater outflows, streams/rivers, wells, and beaches for fecal contamination.

Objectives - (1) Notify the public of contamination events, (2) identify sources of water pollution, (3) provide results to regional and state administrators, (4) Improve regional water quality.


Figure 1. Current Blue Water Task Force monitoring sites. Each of the above sites will be monitored on a fixed weekly schedule every Tuesday starting April 27th, 2010.

How can my business help? Your business can help our chapter obtain the supplies and cover the overhead (i.e. lab space) involved in orchestrating and maintain our water quality monitoring program.

How will my contribution be spent? How ever you want! You tell us. If you want to provide money to sample a beach near your business, or if you want to sample a local stream just let us know and we will get it underway. (For more details see Fig. 2 below and program costs in Appendix I)

How does the program operate? The program operates through grassroots activism. All the samples will be collected by trained volunteers and analyzed by our program director, Steve Tamar. Results will be analyzed with UPRM biologists, disseminated to the public, and to local and regional agencies.

How will my business benefit from contributing? Your business will benefit directly through advertisements and from improved regional water quality.

Sounds great! Who can I make my check payable to? Surfrider Foundation Rincon!
Be sure to check out other chapter related programs, events, and information at www.surfrider.org/rincon!


Figure 2. Current and proposed program expansion to the neighboring municipalities of Aquada and Añasco. Other potential sampling sites can be seen in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 below indicated by the box inset.

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at stevetamar@yahoo.com

Test Results 5 4 2010

Above is a photo of Denise Nieves taking a sample from Steps beach on May 3rd 2010. Thanks Denise!

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at stevetamar@yahoo.com

Test Results for April 27th 2010

Above is a photo of a group of local high school students who helped us sample Steps Beach. Thanks for your help!



In the photo above Roger Galloza returns from collecting a water sample near the Rio Grande de Rincon outflow.

For more information about our water quality monitoring program please click here.

For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at stevetamar@yahoo.com, or the chapter at salvatrespalmas@surfrider.org

Water Quality Monitoring set to Resume in Rincon

After an extended break, due to financial constraints, our chapter is pleased to announce that with the help of the community we raised enough money to reinstate our water quality monitoring program in Rincon. We are set to resume testing on Tuesday April 27th 2010. From that Tuesday on, our chapter will be monitoring various sites in Rincon and around the west coast of Puerto Rico to locate sources of land-based sources of pollution, to notify the public about unhealthy swimming conditions, and provide our results to area agencies to assist in working towards cleaner water for everyone including Puerto Rico's precious marine resources.



Figure 1. The water quality monitoring sites are indicated by a yellow star. These sites will be monitored every Tuesday beginning on April 27th. Results will be sent out on Wednesdays.



Figure 2. Our previous 17 month water quality monitoring program, at the sites above, indicated a bimodal distribution of contamination events. The most contamination events occurred during the wet season. The sites with the most frequent contamination events were South Barrero, Rincon's public beach, and Rio Grande.

This new program will be sampling major streams in Rincon i.e Rio Grande, and Rio Grande de Calvache (el Ultimo Brinco and Almendras), as well as largely popular beaches like Steps and Rincon's public beach. All of these areas when sampled in the previous program, except for Steps beach, where the most frequently contaminated sites. Click here to search results from the previous water quality monitoring program.

Las pruebas al agua no son baratas! Si usted o su negocio se interesan en expandir nuestro programa a otros lugares de Rincon, Aguada o Anasco, al cubrir los costos de monitoreo ($50. mensual por sitio). Por favor comuniquese con nosotros acerca de nuestro programa "Adopta una Playa."

Water testing isn’t cheap! If you or your business is interested in expanding our program to others sites in Rincon, Aguada or Anasco, by covering the costs of monitoring ($50 per site/month), please contact us about our ‘Adopt a Beach’ program.


For more information, or to volunteer to assist with this program, please contact Steve at stevetamar@gmail.com