National Public Lands Day Volunteers Revitalize Dean S. Reservoir in Montana

Twenty-four volunteers, including six youths, gathered at Dean S. Reservoir to mark National Public Lands Day by constructing kiosks, installing culverts, fixing fences and clearing trails.

Dean S. Reservoir is located east of Miles City, Montana, accessed in part by the Baker Highway and situated on the south side of the Pine Hills subdivision on BLM-managed land. The site has recently been upgraded with additional campsites, vehicle pullouts, and areas built to accommodate campers and trailers.

National Public Lands Day is the largest single-day volunteer event for public lands in the United States, held annually on the fourth Saturday of September. The BLM Miles City Field Office has a lengthy relationship with National Public Lands Day stretching back more than two decades. BLM staff have organized and conducted NPLD work events, each held at a different BLM location in eastern Montana.

According to Tamara Tollett, a park ranger with the BLM Montana/Dakotas Miles City Field Office, the event saw a new crop of locals turn out to give back to the lands that provide so much for the American people.

"Each participant was an integral part of the work we accomplished for the betterment of our public lands," said Tollett. "Dean S. Reservoir is in much better shape because of them."

Tollett noted that the younger participants made a notable impression on project leaders by taking on labor-intensive tasks and insisting on continuing their work after lunch.

"The youngest of the kids started working on installing a culvert, and once that was done, they moved to working on the trail — hard work for such young people," said Tollett.

“Not only did all of these kids show up to work voluntarily, but they also made sure that they got the job done before leaving. I’m proud to have had the opportunity to work with such dedicated individuals.”

Coordinated by the National Environmental Education Foundation, National Public Lands Day brings together thousands of volunteers to restore, clean up, and care for America's shared natural and historic spaces. Additionally, the 2026 NPLD events reflect the BLM’s new "All Americans Outside" initiative.