Internal P loading from sediments to waterbodies may be a significant source of P and may prevent the attainment of surface water nutrient criteria developed by the USEPA. Our objectives were to 1) relate surface water P concentrations to sediment P, 2) determine if differences in land use were related to ditch and stream water P concentrations and sediment P status and 3) determine if seasonal differences were associated with water and sediment P concentrations in the ditches and streams that contribute to a major drinking water reservoir for the city of Indianapolis, IN.  Findings showed that there was often a relationship between sorption capacity of the sediment and water column P, but the relationship was not consistent.  The potential mass of P that could be sorbed by the sediment before soluble P exceeded the proposed EPA nutrient criteria limit (0.076 mg P/L) was greatest for August samples.  Extractable P (20 mM CaCl₂) in sediment was consistently below the proposed EPA nutrient criteria for all samples and sampling months.  This information is beneficial in quantifying P dynamics in different land use types.