The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned green due to an algal bloom shortly after completing a multi-million dollar renovation this month [1, 2].
The incident has drawn scrutiny toward the Trump administration's management of the National Mall, as the pool was intended to be a specific "American flag blue" [1].
National Park Service workers responded by applying hydrogen peroxide and bleach to treat the water [2]. The discoloration was observed on Tuesday, June 13 [1]. The pool sits between the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. [1, 2].
Reports on the cost of the renovation vary across sources. Business Insider reported the cost at $14.8 million [3], while The New York Times cited $14.2 million [2], and MSN reported $14 million [4].
"I think it's a mess. I've never seen it this green before," a local resident said [4].
The algal growth followed the reopening of the site, suggesting potential failures in water-treatment measures [1, 3]. While some reports indicate the administration blamed former President Barack Obama for the issue, others attribute the bloom to immediate post-renovation treatment problems [1, 4].
"The pool looks rather green, as opposed to the 'American flag blue' that President Donald Trump had promised," a PBS NewsHour correspondent said [1].
“"I think it's a mess. I've never seen it this green before."”
The rapid onset of an algal bloom following a renovation costing up to $14.8 million suggests a failure in the technical execution of the pool's water filtration or chemical balance. The contrast between the promised aesthetic and the actual result turns a maintenance issue into a political liability for the administration.
