This case study illustrates the need for an integrative approach to protecting Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and assessing their success. MPAs represent a classic example of interconnections associated with coupled natural–human systems and sphere–event interactions that could benefit from integrated interdisciplinary approaches. While the designation of MPAs in coastal waters offers a viable option to protect critical coastal habitats, the success of these areas depends on the successful management of detrimental inputs from adjacent watersheds. The current method of coastal MPA success evaluation using the traditional self-evaluation rubric (TMSE) does not afford a simple and direct way to link MPAs to adjacent watersheds. A Modified Traditional MPA Success Rubric (MTSR)-based approach provides an opportunity for integration of transport pathways. An MTSR based on the achievement of biophysical goals was adapted and used in conjunction with ArcGIS spatial data to look for correlations between MPA success and land use/land cover within adjacent watersheds at HUC8 scale. While measurements within a MPA can provide insights into the water quality issues within the MPA, the solutions to the issues of water quality need an integrated and interdisciplinary place-based approach that can facilitate connecting flow and transport paths from surroundings into the MPA. When educated to find interdisciplinary environmental solutions using geospatial frameworks, future land and coastal managers can work together to improve the success of MPAs by treating them as an open system connected to watersheds and can extend the boundary conditions for evaluating the success of MPAs to include adjacent watershed-based inputs.