Chicago Drive and Lee Street Area of Interest (Wyoming/Grandville, Kent County)

As part of an EPA Great Lake Restoration Initiative grant awarded to EGLE to evaluate fish from waterbodies in Environmental Justice areas, in May 2023 EGLE sampled the pond at Battjes Park in the city of Wyoming. In March 2024, EGLE received the results from the Battjes pond fish, which included several species with elevated levels of PFOS (including a largemouth bass at 307.9 parts per billion; ppb). While the PFOS data in the fish were, at that time, below the Do Not Eat fish threshold from the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), the City of Wyoming decided to turn the lake into a catch and release only fishing water body and posted a sign to remind anglers to release all fish caught from the pond (Figure 1). In 2025, DHHS lowered their Fish Consumption Screening Values for PFOS which resulted in a Do Not Eat fish consumption advisory for Battjes Park Pond from DHHS.

The discovery of elevated levels of PFOS in fish at Battjes Park led to additional fish sampling by EGLE in 2024 at Porter Lake, Luvis Lake, Spelman Lake, Lamar Park Pond, and Hopewell Indian Mounds Pond (Figure 2). In July 2025, EGLE received results from the bluegill collected from the pond at Hopewell Indian Mounds Park and they averaged 50.2 ppb PFOS, which will result in another DHHS Do Not Eat fish recommendation. Later in July 2025, EGLE received the results for the Spelman Lake, Porter Lake, and Lamar Park Pond fish. The bluegill and largemouth bass from Porter Lake and Spelman Lake as well as the largemouth bass from Lamar Park Pond had PFOS concentrations exceeding the Do Not Eat threshold and will result in additional DHHS Do Not Eat recommendations. The Luvis Lake bluegill and pumpkinseed collected in 2024 also had concentrations of PFOS exceeding the Do Not Eat threshold and will result in additional DHHS Do Not Eat Recommendations.

In 2025, EGLE continued fish collections from other waterbodies within this AOI including Georgetown Lake, the pond at Heritage Park and from Whispering Springs Lake (Figure 2). Results are still pending.

EGLE staff collected surface water samples from nearby waterbodies in the spring of 2024. Results showed Battjes Park Pond, Spelman Lake, Lake Sanford, Lamar Lake, Porter Lake, Luvis Lake and Whispering Springs Lake all had PFOS at or exceeding the water quality value of 12 ppt PFOS. Results ranged from 12 ppt at Whispering Springs Lake to 200 ppt at Spellman Lake. Other waterbodies in the area were also sampled and were below water quality values, including Hopewell Indian Mounds Park and Georgetown Park Lake (Figure 3).

EGLE collected additional surface water samples from 33 locations in the spring of 2025. Only one sampling location had PFOS at or exceeding the water quality value, which was 45 ppt PFOS at Old Farm Pond in Kentwood, Michigan. Other results ranged from 11 ppt to less than the reporting limit. EGLE has been investigating potential sources of PFAS by reviewing historic records of some of the numerous industrial facilities in the area and reviewing historic permitted discharge records.

In addition, EGLE began investigating groundwater near Battjes Park in June 2025. PFOS (and other PFAS compounds) were detected at all locations, highest PFOS detections were 56 ppt at 4-8’ below ground surface, and 100 ppt (compared to 16 ppt) at 8-12’ below ground surface. Due to detections at all locations, a potential source of the contamination was undetermined (Figure 4).

EGLE collected 11 stormwater samples in August 2025. Stormwater samples were collected downstream of various industrial areas to help identify potential industrial stormwater sources to the ponds and groundwater. Note that his area is being referred to as the Chicago Road and Lee Street Area. The boundaries of this investigation are subject to change based on data received and evaluated (Figure 5).