The goal of this case study is to demonstrate the need for a geospatially integrated holistic approach to connect terrestrial sources of pollutants to aquatic sinks via flow and transport pathways that include interactions between multiple spheres following event(s) (viz., extreme rainfall events, wildfires, soil erosion, and sedimentation) where the watershed is used as a ‘unit of analysis.’ Watersheds are characterized by the combination of three key land attributes (landform, soils, and vegetation) that creates their unique watershed and morphometric characteristics. Despite the complexities that can occur within a singular watershed due to many interacting processes with the bio-geo-physical-land use environment, the use of place-based research using watersheds as a unit of analysis has the potential to contribute toward knowledge integration from local to global scales as watersheds are relatively stable features of the landscape. This knowledge can then be applied to landscapes in differing climatic and cultural contexts using a geospatially integrated big data framework. The conceptual framework discussed here demonstrates an interdisciplinary approach is needed for long-term coastal planning, mitigation, and conservation efforts, as well as management of land–water interfaces. This conceptual framework will facilitate the integration of traditional methodologies that usually focus on a specific aspect of the source-sink relationships and often are too complex to be readily adopted by land and coastal managers without proper interdisciplinary training. However, effective adoption of this conceptual framework would require integrative and interdisciplinary training and education—ranging from soil genesis and soil physics to geomorphology, climatology, hydrology, modeling, and GIS.