The nutrient budgets of the Western Cape Mountain fynbos areas of the Republic of South Africa have been the subject of investigations since 1971. The average nutrient input (120 kg/ha/yr) exceeds the output (96 kg/ha/yr) by 29 percent. Because in this case the main source of nutrients in precipitation is the sea, heavy loads of Na and Cl are deposited into the fynbos areas. The other constituents of precipitation are K, Ca, Mg, Cl. Traces of HCO3 and SO4 were found, while no traces of N and P were detected. The constituents in streamflow were present in the same ratio as in precipitation. The influence of prescribed burning in different seasons on stream water quality was also investigated. Results indicate that nutrient release as a result of prescribed burning does not persist beyond the first winter after burning. The month in which burning takes place has an influence in this respect. It was found that the net release of nutrients takes place during the first two floods after the burn. There is no marked increase in sediment loads of the streams after burning.