The staff at the Venango Conservation District is so happy to be back to working from our office beginning in June of 2021.   It was not easy being away, but during our time of working from home, the VCD Board of Directors and staff were busy working on securing a new home. 

Two Mile Run County Park has been very generous over the years in providing us office space on the Park.  Our office is located at 1793 Cherrytree Road, Franklin PA in a little house that overlooks the boat launch on Justus Lake. 

We’ve been happily installed at that location since 2007, but now we’re looking forward to a place of our own.  In October 2020, the district purchased the former Happy Tails Veterinary Clinic property.  A design architect was hired and a contractor received a bid award to renovate the Clinic building so that we can utilize the space as our office.  Once renovations are completed and we are able to move in, the Park can begin to utilize the little house we called a home as a rental space where visitors can stay.

The benefits of this move is to secure a location that is owned by the district.  In this way we are less dependent on the County to provide a space for us.  The new property at 4871 US 322 includes several garage spaces that will provide secure storage for our large equipment.  The new office space is large enough for our staff to grow in the future.  There is even enough room to hold meetings and educational programs.
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The VCD is grateful to the Park for continuing to offer space for us until renovations are complete at our new property.  We hope that visitors to the park who stay at our soon-to-be former office will be as happy with the location as we have been.

The Venango Conservation District is very pleased to announce that two new staff members have been added.  Hilary Buchanan has been hired as the district's Dirt Gravel and Low Volume Roads Technician, and Tim Hummel has been hired as the district's Watershed Specialist.  Each began their new positions on May 2nd.

Hilary has earned a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Geoscience and has work experience with wetland delineation, NPDES permits and Chapter 105 General and Joint Permits.  She also has work experience in water sampling, and ArcGIS work. 

Hilary has been off and running since her first day.  She has attended new staff training for the Dirt & Gravel Roads program.  She has been on project locations most every day in May.  She even helped out with elementary education programs.

Tim has earned a Master's degree in Biology.  Tim has work experience as a Watershed Project Manager and experience as a field technician.  Tim has been busy around the County meeting with local watershed associations and contributing to elementary education programs.

We are so impressed with the work our new staff has progressed with just in the month of May.  We are looking forward to the great work these new staff members will bring to our office and to Venango County.