Total dissolved solids (TDS) coming from surface coal mines are greatly impacting water quality in Appalachia. This study investigated whether vegetation could reduce TDS (specifically calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium and sulfate ions) in solution draining from the soil into streams. Vegetated and un‐vegetated plots were established across eight sites that differed in age, rock material, and plant communities. Ion exchange resins that capture TDS ions in soil solution were used to compare nutrient ion fluxes that contribute to TDS between paired plots. Soil and vegetation properties (used as proxies for evapotranspiration and plant uptake) were characterized at each site and correlated with log ratios of common TDS contributing ions. Strong correlations were found during the peak growing season, suggesting that the presence of vegetation reduced the amount of dissolved ions in soil solution. In addition, soil organic matter was correlated with TDS contributing nutrient ions in all seasons. These finding suggests that productive, growing forests could reduce TDS contributing nutrient ions draining from soils into streams through plant and organic matter retention.