Algae Back After Renovation
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Sees Green Algae Return After $14 Million Renovation
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Within 24 hours of being refilled, the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was already turning green. Visible clumps of algae appeared across the 2,030-foot basin on June 10, just days after President Trump declared the $14.2 million project complete, according to CNN.
The Interior Department insists the bloom is temporary. But with the pool still visibly green on June 16 — and the July 4th 'America 250' celebration drawing an expected 125,000 visitors to the National Mall — the administration faces an embarrassing public relations test at one of the country's most iconic landmarks.
A $14 Million Fix That Returned Familiar Green
Trump announced the renovation on April 24, estimating it would cost just $1.5 million to $2 million and take about one week, according to Forbes. By May 11, public records showed the price had ballooned to $13.1 million — an 88% jump. The final contract landed at $14.2 million. The work was handed to Atlantic Industrial Coatings, a Virginia firm that previously did pool work at one of Trump's private golf clubs, through a no-bid contract, The Guardian reported.
The renovation painted the pool floor 'American flag blue' and installed nanobubbler technology — devices that pump microscopic oxygen bubbles into the water to break down organic matter. Workers also rushed to finish before the July 4th deadline. Labor unions warned in May that the 'frenetic' pace could compromise safety, The Guardian reported. Water began flowing back into the 6.75-million-gallon basin on June 4.
Interior Department Blames 'Residual' Algae From Supply Lines
The administration moved quickly to downplay the bloom. Interior Department spokesperson Katie Martin said, 'What you are seeing is residual algae from the supply lines... the nanobubblers will maintain the pool and keep it algae free,' according to The Washington Post. Officials framed the algae as a normal part of any pool's startup process, not a sign of failure.
But by June 14 and 15, National Park Service workers were spotted in waders, manually scrubbing the blue floor with hand tools and chlorine pellets, Reuters reported. That hands-on cleanup contradicts the promise of an automatic nanobubbler solution. The algae remained visible at the pool's east and west ends as of June 16.
Experts Warned the Pipes Were Always the Real Problem
The Reflecting Pool has battled algae for decades. The pool is shallow — just 18 inches deep — and filled with stagnant water high in nutrients from local waterfowl. In 2012, the Obama administration spent $34 million on a full restoration, including a new circulation system. That pool was infested with algae within months, CNN reported.
Water quality experts cited by The New York Times warned that the Trump renovation focused on the surface while ignoring the 'major underlying problem' of leaky, aging pipes. As long as those pipes remain, experts said, 'the algae could come back.' The nanobubbler approach may simply be overmatched by 6.75 million gallons of water sitting in summer heat without proper pipe replacement.
Critics Call It a Vanity Project With a Growing Price Tag
Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) called the renovation a 'vanity project,' criticizing the decision to divert funds toward the proposed 'Trump Promenade' — a planned addition near the site — according to Newsweek. Critics argue the $14.2 million went to paint and unproven technology instead of fixing the structural pipe issues that cause algae in the first place.
The administration has pushed back, praising Trump's 'expert builder' status and arguing the project saved money compared to Obama's $34 million effort. But with manual cleaning already underway, long-term maintenance costs could push the total well past the initial $14.2 million outlay, Forbes noted. Some visitors have also panned the new blue floor as looking like a 'commercial swimming pool' rather than a historic monument, The Guardian reported.
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