Key facts
- Green algae has reappeared in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
- The recent renovations cost over $13 million and included new nanobubbler technology.
- An Interior Department spokesperson described the algae as residual from dormant supply lines.
- The pool's bottom was painted blue and leaks were repaired during the renovation period.
- The National Park Service will oversee the pool's ongoing maintenance.
Green algae has returned to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall, days after the completion of renovations. The project, which cost over $13 million, included the installation of nanobubbler technology designed to eliminate algae by reducing its food supply. Despite assurances from the Interior Department that the technology had successfully destroyed the algae, images show its resurgence.
A spokesperson for the Interior Department stated that the recent algae flare-ups were anticipated and are a normal part of the startup process. They explained that the visible algae is residual from the supply lines, which had been dormant for eight weeks during construction. The National Park Service is set to manage the site's maintenance.
As part of the renovations, the bottom of the 2,028-foot-long pool, which holds approximately 6.75 million gallons of water, was painted "American Flag" blue. Leaks that previously caused the pool to lose up to 16 million gallons of water annually were also repaired. The Trump administration is also preparing to address leaky pipes in the fall.