In September 1997, Minnesota Power conveyed to the public 22,600 acres along 150 miles of pristine riverfront of the St. Louis, Cloquet and Whiteface rivers, to be preserved and protected for public use. It was part of one of the largest local river protection efforts in the United States.

Minnesota Power donated 5,640 acres, valued at $1.15 million, outright, and sold the balance to the state of Minnesota for about $4.1 million.
Stewardship of the river area was granted to the St. Louis River Board, a cooperative joint-powers entity formed by St. Louis, Carlton and Lake counties in the early 1990s. The board adopted a comprehensive plan in 1994 that will keep the area as natural as possible, although some trails and campsites could be added.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has identified black bear, deer, eagle, ruffed grouse and various furbearers as among species using the riparian woods that dominate the area.

In addition to providing public land for hunting, hiking, birding, canoeing, and berry picking, the property now is also protected from future development.