Four islands, Hawk, Crow, Gull and Mallard, lie alongside each other in Rainy Lake. They look from the air like ships lined up in review, hence the name "Review Islands." Together they comprise only about 18 acres, but their combined shoreline is close to 2 miles. The islands have historic significance, especially Mallard Island, which for 50 years was the home of legendary conservationist and author, Ernest Oberholtzer.

Americans, and especially we Minnesotans, owe Ober a great debt. His travels throughout the Rainy Lake watershed in the early years of the 20th century shaped his understanding that it was a unique international treasure endangered by the unbridled commercial forces of the day. Ober worked tirelessly to preserve the watershed--lobbying, meeting, writing, organizing, and testifying. He served on the President's Quetico-Superior Committee for 34 years, and was a founding member of The Wilderness Society. Today each of us has the opportunity to fish or boat or paddle in the clean water of Rainy Lake because of the work that he and his collegues did. That work was begun nearly 100 years ago. The Minnesota Land Trust and the Ernest C. Oberholtzer Foundation now continue by permanently protecting all four Review Islands with a conservation easement.

Our children's children's children will be glad we did.

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