an interview with Chiliwist
landowner robert Hall
PUrChASING lAND For CoNSErVATIoN
In 2014, Conservation Northwest supporter Bob Hall purchased 500 acres
near the Chiliwist Wildlife Area in the lower Okanogan Valley. But just after
he became the landowner, the Carlton Complex Fire raged through the area.
Fortunately, all but one of Hall's buildings were spared and he is content that his
purchase will keep the landscape intact, prevent extensive development and the sale
of dozens of smaller plots, and provide quality habitat for mule deer, grouse, and
other native species; serving in some ways as an extension of the nearby wildlife area.
Hall and I spoke recently to discuss his property, the conservation benefits, and the
recent fires.
What made you originally think about buying property for conservation?
I first got the idea to buy property like that in the very early 1970s, when I lived
in eastern Washington and the Idaho Panhandle. I was checking out land values,
and it became apparent that the less commercial value the land had, the larger the
parcels were, the less accessible they were, and the lower the price. All of which I
liked, so for the past 40 years I've been checking out property mostly in the Okano-
gan. Earlier this year I finally had the money and time to buy some land.
Mitch Friedman Executive director,
mitch@conservationnw.org
Bob Hall near his 500 acres in the lower Okanogan
Valley after the Carlton Complex Fire.
Photo: Kane Hall
The Hall property and burned areas from the Carlton
fire. In the distance is the public-owned Chiliwist
Wildlife Area, important habitat for mule deer and
other species. Photo: Chase Gunnell
Interview series
10 Winter 2015 conservationnw.org
