Meet Ellen Gartside

Ellen Gartside. Photo: Beach Watch

Interview by Dru Devlin

How did you first hear about Beach Watch?

I was working at the Fitzgerald Marine Reserve (San Mateo) as a park aide when Beach Watch first started, so I did the surveys as part of my work at the Reserve.  I liked it so much I wanted my own beach.  At first I did Pomponio Beach, but it was difficult to consistently access.  Montara Beach became available, and I have been surveying it for 12 years.  It is my favorite beach.

Where are you from and what are your other interests? 

I am originally from South Jersey.  I spent the summers at the shore and have always been interested in the ocean.  The sandy shores of the East coast are not nearly as dynamic as the rocky intertidal of the West coast, so I didn’t think about pursuing marine biology as a career until I moved to California.

My other interests include gardening, traveling, and environmental issues. I am a member of the Fitzgerald Board, and I do a lot of things involving the ocean and water.

Tell us about your most unusual beach find.

Well, I found a dead deer once and also a Stellar Sea Lion. I had a substitute on my beach who  found a Rat fish.  Once I found the most beautiful Sea Otter.  It’s hard to say it’s cool to see these animals up close when they are dead, but otherwise you can never get close enough to them to see all the details.

I’ve found some cool foreign bottles and a Japanese glass float. The other thing I find most interesting is the beach art— I found a piece of bull whip kelp with a face painted on it.  For a while, someone was carving a huge mermaid into the cliff but the artist never finished her head.  And I am always looking for beach glass.

Tell us about your interest in marine conservation.

I want to pass the interest and concern for conservation on to the next generation.  Everyday is beach clean up day for me.  Any day I go to the beach I pick up trash.

I currently work for the San Mateo County Resource Conservation District (RCD). Much of our work is water conservation. A  majority of our projects deal with enhancing water quality in creeks. We work with farmers to help them make improvements to their land to reduce erosion and sediment run-off in creeks. We have also helped some to install roof run-off systems to collect rainwater. We are also conducting a study to determine the source of fecal contamination in Pillar Point Harbor.

One of the projects I am working on and am excited about is the Watershed Discovery Workshop.   We teach 5th graders about watersheds, what impacts they have on water quality even if they don’t live near the ocean and what they can do to take care of the watershed they live in. The program is about increasing awareness in young children about the importance of water.

What has made you continue with the program for 15 years?

It’s not just a walk on the beach.  Every sense is on heightened alert. And, I love Montara  Beach, it’s one my favorite places on Earth. Beach Watch is always like an Easter egg hunt.  I never know what I am going to find or see. It’s always beautiful and amazing, watching pelicans fly or finding the perfect piece of beach glass.  It is an opportunity to stay connected in a meaningful way.

It’s wonderful that Beach Watch has been around for 15 years.  It is an excellent example of how one person can make a difference as part of a greater whole. Each volunteer contributes to this great big data set.  And this giant data set leads to a greater understanding of the marine environment.  It is incredible that we have all contributed to this 15 year data set.

When you are not monitoring beaches, what do you do?

I love to travel when I am not working.  This last summer I spent in Ecuador.  I went to the Galapagos Islands with a bunch of great people and then spent a month in Cuenca, living and studying at a Spanish school. Then I spent two weeks working on an organic farm.  I also visited the “poor man’s” Galapagos, Isla de la Plata, to see the Humpback whales that travel north to Ecuador from the South Pole.

Any interesting stories about your life? 

One of the highlights of my marine biology career was visiting the Farallon Islands.  I was able to take part in two research teams on the Farallones.  On the first expedition I did intertidal surveys and the second was to help with the elephant seal research. Beach Watch opened doors for me and has presented me with some great opportunities.

Do you have any advice for fellow or future Beach Watchers?

Always watch for sneaker waves! Never turn your back on the ocean! Keep with it and “Just Do It!”