Little Mike Lake on Rose Barracks in Vilseck, Germany, seen here on June 8, 2026, is one of five lakes and streams in the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria complex and Grafenwoehr Training Area that have been designated off-limits to fishing after elevated levels of toxic PFAS chemicals were detected in fish samples. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
GRAFENWOEHR, Germany — Members of an Army base community in southern Germany are being advised to seek the catch of the day somewhere other than five local bodies of water where “forever chemicals” were found in fish samples.
Elevated levels of PFAS were discovered at Little Mike Lake, Rod and Gun Lakes 1 and 2, Thumbach Stream and Schaumbach Stream in the Grafenwoehr Training Area, U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria posted on its Facebook page Friday.
Anglers were advised not to consume any fish caught in those bodies of water, the garrison statement said. Drinking water on and around the installation remains safe and is monitored by U.S. and German environmental officials, it added.
PFAS, or human-made per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are long-lasting chemicals used to make coatings and products that resist heat, oil, stains, grease and water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They’re also found in firefighting foam historically used at U.S. military bases around the world. PFOS and PFOA are two common types.
Garrison spokeswoman Kayla Overton was asked Monday about the severity of the PFAS contamination and what may have caused it. She acknowledged the inquiry but did not provide immediate answers to those questions.
Fishing is still permitted at Big Mike Lake, Dickhauter Lake, L-Lake, Sand Holes Lakes 1, 2 and 3, and the swim site Zwerchbachweiher, the statement said. The garrison reported the findings to German environmental officials.
Fish species in the designated areas include trout, carp, pike and perch, Overton said. In Germany, fishing is for consumption only as catch-and-release programs are prohibited under German regulations, she added.
Fishing is off-limits at Little Mike Lake in Vilseck, Germany, seen here on June 8, 2026, after elevated levels of toxic PFAS chemicals were detected in fish samples. (Matthew M. Burke/Stars and Stripes)
“Individuals who have recently consumed fish from the suspended locations and have health concerns are encouraged to contact their health care provider,” the statement said.
All the affected bodies of water are either on base or in the Grafenwoehr Training Area, an 89-square-mile expanse featuring ranges, tank trails and largely untouched forest. The training area is home to about 3,000 species of plants and animals.
PFAS compounds have been linked to a slew of conditions ranging from increased cholesterol to liver and immune system damage, low birth weight and certain cancers, according to the CDC.
They have been dubbed “forever chemicals” because they accumulate in the body over time.
The acceptable level of PFOS and PFOA allowed in drinking water in the U.S. was set at 4 parts per trillion, or approximately 4 nanograms per liter, in 2024, according to the Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
The limit in Germany will be set at 20 nanograms per liter for certain toxic chemicals, including PFOS and PFOA, by 2028.
There are no safe amounts of these chemicals, the EPA has said.
