A record discharge of about 54 ?? 106 metric tons of predominantly fine-grained detrital sediment was introduced during 1969 into the eastern part of Santa Barbara Channel from the Santa Clara and Ventura Rivers. The clay-size fraction from bottom samples collected during a time-series of about 18 months revealed movement across the shelf and into the adjacent basin in a repetitive sequential pattern. Light transmission profiles show resuspension and transport of sediments at depths of up to 225 m. This transport and distribution history is attributed to seasonal variations in the vertical and lateral position of a poleward-flowing current. ?? 1985 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.