Steps towards modeling nutrient export in coastal Californian streams with a Mediterranean climate

Several parameters are presented in an initial effort to build relationships for simulating nutrient export based on land use, precipitation and antecedent soil moisture conditions. The objective is to create robust relationships, using parameters in a simple and cost efficient manner, which can be extended to other coastal watersheds with similar land uses and climate. The effort focuses on nitrate and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP). The relationship of volume-weighted mean nutrient concentration and runoff/rainfall ratios shows promise as a means of predicting nutrient export in flashy streams experiencing a Mediterranean climate.