Reflecting Pool renovation draws algae and toxicity concerns
Reports say a $14 million White House-backed renovation has left the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool green and under scrutiny before anniversary events.
By Sofia Marchetti · World Affairs Correspondent
3 min read
A renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool ordered by President Donald Trump has produced algae, damaged coating and questions about chemicals in the water, according to Fortune and other outlets. The problems have drawn scrutiny because the pool is a central Washington landmark and the work was tied to preparations for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Fortune reported that the project’s cost rose from $13.1 million to more than $14 million. The pool, which sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument, was repainted in what officials described as an “American flag blue” color, according to The New York Times.
Contractors used materials from Rhino Linings, a company known for truck-bed coatings, Fortune reported. The New Republic, citing a review of contractor materials and earlier reporting by Meidas News, reported that an epoxy resin used in the lining carried OSHA warnings that it was toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects and could act as a strong irritant.
The New York Times reported that crews removed nanobubbler equipment before the renovation was finished as workers faced a schedule linked to a UFC birthday event for Trump at the White House. The devices were intended to oxygenate the water and limit algae growth, according to Fortune.
After the pool was refilled on June 9, green algae appeared within days, with visible patches near the Lincoln Memorial and the World War II Memorial, Fortune reported. Interior Department spokesperson Katie Martin initially described the algae as residual material from water supply lines that had been idle during construction, according to The Washington Post.
Officials later pointed to nanobubble ozone technology and hydrogen peroxide treatments as remedies, according to WTOP. Fortune reported that officials described the water as “crystal clear” while visitors and reporters continued to observe green, cloudy water.
The technology at the center of the fix had not previously been tested at that scale on a public monument, Fortune reported. The outlet also reported that tears later appeared in the new blue lining.
Trump blamed unnamed vandals in a Truth Social post, saying someone had cut a 250-foot gash in the lining and poured chemicals into the pool, according to ABC News and the Associated Press. Park Police made five arrests and issued additional citations, Fortune reported, but investigators had not substantiated that vandalism caused the coating and algae problems.
The algae itself may not be the main environmental concern. Rosalina Stancheva Christova, an aquatic ecology professor at George Mason University, told the BBC the bloom was a Desmodesmus species and was harmless to humans and animals.
The chemical warning tied to the coating has received less official attention. Fortune reported that administration officials had not addressed the toxicity concern raised by The New Republic and Meidas News over the epoxy resin.
National Guard members and U.S. Park Police have been patrolling the area around the clock ahead of July 4 events, Fortune reported. The administration is still trying to restore the pool’s appearance as anniversary festivities approach.
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.