Reflecting Pool Troubles
Reflecting Pool renovation faces scrutiny after dead duck, algae, and peeling liner appear.
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A dead duckling was found floating in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 21, just days after crews treated the water with hydrogen peroxide to fight a massive algae bloom, according to The Blast. The grim discovery has deepened questions about a $14.2 million renovation that was supposed to make the landmark shine for the nation's 250th anniversary.
Political journalist Rob Crilly shared images of the dead bird on social media, citing an expert who warned the pool may contain toxic cyanobacteria — a form of blue-green algae that can be deadly to wildlife. The pool, which was refilled on June 5 after workers installed a deep "American Flag Blue" liner, has rapidly become a symbol of administrative mismanagement, Yahoo News reported.
A $14M Pool That Turned Dollar-Bill Green
President Trump ordered the Reflecting Pool repainted "American Flag Blue" for the country's 250th-anniversary celebrations. The main contract was reportedly awarded without competitive bidding to a contractor the President described as his "pool guy," according to The Blast. The project started with an estimate of under $2 million but ballooned to $14.2 million as problems piled up.
Within two weeks of the June 5 refill, large algae blooms turned the blue water a "deep shade of American dollar green." National Park Service crews responded with hydrogen peroxide and "nanobubble ozone technology" to kill the algae. Then, between June 16 and 19, massive sections of the blue liner began peeling away. One reported gash in the liner stretched 250 feet long, Yahoo News reported.
Trump Blames Vandals; Experts Point to Poor Design
On June 20, President Trump posted on Truth Social that the pool had been "seriously vandalized" by "sick, deranged people." He pointed to the phrase "86 47" etched into nearby grass as evidence of a coordinated attack. U.S. Park Police have confirmed 14 police reports, 5 arrests, and 5 citations for vandalism at the site, according to Yahoo News.
But critics say the vandalism claims miss the bigger picture. Environmental experts argue that applying a synthetic blue coating to a large, stagnant pool in Washington's humid summer was always likely to fail. The liner, they say, began peeling on its own due to poor adhesion — before any vandals arrived. Park Police have not confirmed Trump's claim that anyone poured "corrosive chemicals" into the water, The Blast noted.
Dead Duckling Raises Fears of a Toxic Pool
Crilly's photos of the dead duckling went viral quickly. An expert he cited flagged the risk of cyanobacteria — toxic blue-green algae that can kill birds and sicken people. While the official cause of the duckling's death remains unknown pending further testing, the timing was hard to ignore: the bird was found just days after crews doused the water with hydrogen peroxide, The Blast reported.
If cyanobacteria are confirmed, the pool could pose a health risk to tourists and wildlife alike. The pool holds roughly 6.75 million gallons of water. Draining and refilling it is expensive and time-consuming — and it would leave an empty pit in front of the Lincoln Memorial during July 4th celebrations, a major optics problem for the administration's anniversary showcase.
Pool Likely to Be Drained Before July 4th
On the evening of June 21, Trump announced the pool would likely need to be drained for repairs. White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers had earlier defended the project, saying the new lining would prevent the loss of 16 million gallons of water per year. But the cost of the project has already grown sevenfold from its original estimate, and critics say more expenses are coming, according to Yahoo News.
A preservation group filed a lawsuit in May, alleging that federal historic preservation laws were bypassed during the renovation. Former Olympic canoeist David Hearn was arrested for allegedly peeling the liner, though he says he only touched paint that was already detached. The "American Flag Blue" pool was meant to be the backdrop for the nation's biggest birthday party. Right now, it looks more like a swamp.
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