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Figure 15 presents the ratio of sodium to calcium in study <br />area surface and ground waters. Water with higher ratios have <br />more Na+ than CaZr, and this generally includes all ground waters <br />in the study area. It indicates that groundwaters has been <br />influenced by evaporation and sodium has accumulated. <br />Evaporation from groundwater more than a few feet deep is not <br />rapid, we thus suggest that much groundwater has been in place <br />for a considerable period of time. Another possibility is that <br />this water has been recharged by sodium rich water from off-site. <br />The point that is most clear is that this groundwater is not <br />connected to the Gunnison River, or other surface water source. <br />The Gunnison River, Roubideau Ponds, irrigation return flow near <br />the Roubideau ponds, the pond at station 20, and at station 10 <br />all have similar ratios of 0.25 to 0.65. The backwater channel <br />at station 21 has a higher ratio, 0.77, most likely because it is <br />influenced by groundwater discharge from the floodplain in the <br />area of well 19,which is more sodium rich water. <br />ESCALANTE STATE WILDLIFE AREA ON THE GUNNISON RIVER <br />-- N <br />old river charnel <br />t, o0o teat <br />0 <br />Na/Ca Ratio in surface <br />and ground water <br />irrigation return <br />rives charnel ~ backwaier <br />.55 3.04 <br />2.46 .2 and <br />.69 4 <br />0.4 <br />0 2 ~~ Irrigation return <br />irrigation return <br />Gumison River 0.25 <br />0.42 <br />0.38 <br />backwater 0.49 Q O Q <br />2.58 ponds <br />escarpment ~~ <br />~ Roubideau Creak <br />Figure 15. Ratio of Na+ to Ca2+ in study area waters. In general <br />surface waters have ratios less than 1.0 while ground waters had <br />higher ratios indicating that sodium was the dominant ion. <br />22 <br />