The Venango Conservation District, located at 4871 US 322, Franklin, PA 16323, is accepting proposals for a contract to construct approximately 100 feet of stream-bank stabilization and fish habitat in-stream structures in Cherrytree Run located on Sportsman Lane (41.497706, -79.70034) within Cornplanter Township in Venango County, Pennsylvania. The Cherrytree Run Fish Habitat Improvement Project will address an urgent environmental need to stabilize eroding stream banks as well as create standard fish habitat structures. The scope of this project consists of 100’ of stream bank in which 1 modified mudsill structure will consist of four 20 feet long sections.

This process is an open call for qualified contractors. 

The Venango Conservation District is a tax-exempt organization.  Proposal prices should be calculated without applicable sales tax.

A pre-bid meeting will be held at the project site on Friday, July 12, 2024 beginning at 10:00 a.m. Meeting location will be at 41.497584, -79.700361 on pull off onsite on Sportsman Lane located directly off of Rt. 8. Please contact Bailey Kozalla by calling 814-676-2832 ext. 2 or emailing [email protected] to RSVP for this meeting by 4:00 p.m. on July 11, 2024. Contractor representative attendance at the bid meeting is required for the submission of a successful bid for the project. 

All construction activities for this project will be subject to the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act of 1961. Prevailing wage rates determinations from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for this project are attached.

Sealed proposals must be received by the Venango Conservation District by 3:00 pm on July 26, 2024.  Proposals may be sent via email in pdf format to Bailey Kozalla: 

Bailey Kozalla
Watershed Specialist
Venango Conservation District
4871 US 322
Franklin, PA 16323
(814) 676-2832 ext. 2
[email protected]

The Venango Dirt and Gravel Roads program, administered by the Venango Conservation District, provides education and funding to municipalities to improve dirt and gravel roads in the county.  Trout Unlimited found that sediment from dirt roads can be a major contributor of pollution to streams in Pennsylvania.  As a result the Commonwealth allocates millions of dollars statewide annually to conservation districts for its Dirt and Gravel Roads program. 

Thanks to Ashley Hazlett, the Venango Conservation District Dirt Gravel and Low Volume Roads Technician, this blog entry will showcase a Dirt and Gravel Roads program project in Victory Township.  The Dennison Run Road project spans across 400 feet of a hilly dirt road.  The section in question was consistently having drainage issues and was losing road surface during storm events.

The funding requested for this project was $13.500.00.  This funding helped provide for the addition of three new cross pipes.  Ditches and banks were also stabilized and road fill was added to maintain a proper crown and a safe driving surface.   The estimated value of the project is $18,913.00. 

Victory Township anticipates submitting an application for further Dirt & Gravel Roads program funding to continue drainage and road surface improvements to the upper hill area of the road.