San Benito County Water District explains Piscinous Canal, off‑stream reservoir and groundwater recharge

Dana Jacobson, general manager for the San Benito County Water District, briefed the Fish and Game Advisory Commission on Dec. 15 about the Piscinous Canal and Piscinous (off‑stream) Reservoir and how the structures fit into local water supply and groundwater recharge strategies.

Jacobson said the district diverts water from a San Benito River diversion near Old Airport Road into the Piscinous Canal and then to the off‑stream reservoir, which stores water for a few months and releases it into Tres Pinos Creek to enable groundwater recharge in that part of the county. "The canal itself is a completely manmade facility... there's no natural resident population of fish in there," he told the commission, noting occasional carp can enter but fish are not native to the canal environment.

He explained diversions are constrained by turbidity: the canal is run only when river water has settled sufficiently so it does not "muck up" the canal, and last year the system operated roughly four to five weeks because of limited water. Jacobson added the Piscinous Reservoir sits on private ranch land (Pascinos Ranch) and the district operates under easements for access and maintenance.

Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the reservoir's relationship to Hernandez Reservoir and about whether fish could move from Hernandez into the canal. Jacobson said such movement of fish is rare and that most flows come from managed diversions during clearer spring conditions.

The commission opened public comment on the item and received none. Jacobson and his team offered to return for further questions; the commission thanked them and asked staff to coordinate any future updates.

Ending: The item was informational only; no action was required or taken.