Wildfire residues contain refractory organics which may be an important source of carbon in coastal biogeochemical cycles. Consumption of protective vegetation by fires, followed by a severe storm season, may dramatically enhance the export of sediment and associated organic-rich material; especially in mountainous, highly erodable watersheds like the Santa Clara River basin, California. To test this hypothesis, we collected surface sediment and core samples up to 38 cm in depth from the modern Santa Clara river depositional zone during March 2004, immediately after 2003 seasonal wildfires and the extensive 2003-2004 winter flood events. Organic markers of refractory pyrolyzed (aromatics, levoglucosan) and non-pyrolyzed (lignin) carbon were quantified in these samples. Results indicate 2-fold increases in carbon:nitrogen (C:N) ratios, 13C depletion of ~2‰, greater than 2-fold increases in lambda-6 lignin phenols, and 1-2 ng/g higher levels of fire-derived biomarkers, at certain locations areally and downcore in the Santa Barbara Channel. Geochemical profiles indicate the presence of a relict fire-derived layer at depth, inferred from both 210Pb dating and fire records to be from the 1985 wildfires (4th largest in the basin). This study demonstrates that eroded wildfire residue produces an easily discerned geochemical signature with up to 7% greater refractory carbon deposition above background in the Eastern Santa Barbara channel.