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Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area (Waterford, Oakland County)

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area (Waterford, Oakland County)

Disclaimer: Web content may not be routinely updated on this page.

Please contact the Site Lead for the most up-to-date status of this site.

EGLE site lead

Ira Adolphues, AdolphuesI@Michigan.gov or 586-295-6682.

Background

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area operated is located at 7800 Gale Road. On January 10, 2014, a twin-engine Cessna 310 plane owned by Royal Air crashed in a wooded area at this site just north of the boat launch and south of the beach area. The plane caught fire and approximately 85 gallons of Aqueous Film Forming Foam (AFFF) was used.

Groundwater flow in the crash area is toward Pontiac Lake.

Between 2021 and 2026, EGLE sampled groundwater at various locations near the crash and collected samples from Pontiac Lake.  The results show that the PFAS contamination area is mapped (delineated) and no further investigation is needed. 

Find documents related to this site in RIDE

Content posted July 2026.

Pontiac Lake State Recreation Area map

Site map

See an aerial view of the location of the site.

Expand the map

Drinking water

EGLE, MDHHS and local health reviewed the area and determined there are no residential wells in the area of the crash. Homes in the area are connected to city water.

Anticipated activities

EGLE will draft a compliance communication to Royal Air Freight notifying them of their Part 201 obligation to delineate and clean up the contamination.

Historical timeline

    • In July 2021, EGLE collected groundwater samples from eight different locations near the crash site.
    • In August 2021, EGLE received the sampling results showing two monitoring wells exceeded criteria, the highest of which was 7,200 ppt PFOS (compared to 16 ppt).
    • On September 21, 2021, at 6:00pm, MPART hosted a virtual town hall meeting to discussing the results of the PFAS investigation.   
    • In August 2021 and 2022, EGLE sent compliance communication letters to Royal Air stating that the company was liable for the release of PFAS compounds from the AFFF that was used to put the plane fire out in 2014.
    • In February 2025, it was concluded that Royal Air was not responsible for the release of PFAS.
    • In February 2026, EGLE installed three temporary monitoring wells and collected groundwater samples. Results were below criteria.
    • In April 2026, EGLE collected two surface water samples from Pontiac Lake. Results were non-detect for PFAS.