Trump Administration Fights Algae in $14.2 Million Lincoln Pool Renovation
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 16
Trump Administration Fights Algae in $14.2 Million Lincoln Pool Renovation
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 16
Summary
$14.2 million in renovation work was completed little more than a week ago, but the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has already turned green, prompting crews to vacuum algae and add hydrogen peroxide.
6.5 million gallons of refilled water still showed elevated phosphate levels in tests, a key algae nutrient, even after levels fell from last week; Interior says its ozone nanobubbler system has killed the bloom.
Interior has not given a deadline for clearing the pool, while outside specialists said Washington heat, shallow depth and lingering nutrients could keep algae returning through summer and into fall.
The setback revives a long-running problem at the monument: a $34 million Obama-era restoration also saw algae quickly return, even as Trump had pushed this faster overhaul before the July 4 250th celebrations.