Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 26
White House Says Lincoln Reflecting Pool Is Crystal Clear After 3 Dead Ducks Drew Scrutiny
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 26

White House Says Lincoln Reflecting Pool Is Crystal Clear After 3 Dead Ducks Drew Scrutiny

3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 26

Summary

  • Taylor Rogers said Thursday the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is now “crystal clear” and reflecting properly, as the White House sought to blunt criticism of the recent renovation.
  • Three dead ducks found at the pool this week intensified scrutiny of the project, including officials’ use of high-concentration hydrogen peroxide to fight a recent algae bloom.
  • Eyewitness posts on Thursday showed water that looked much clearer, though some residual algae was still visible.
  • The White House did not say whether it consulted the Architect of the Capitol or National Park Service, even as comparisons grew with the Capitol Reflecting Pool, which underwent a $7.3 million renovation after Congress took control in 2011.

Insights

After a $16M renovation, why is the Lincoln Memorial pool's new liner failing while fundamental leaks remain unfixed?
What lessons from the successful Capitol pool renovation were ignored during the Lincoln Memorial's troubled and costly project?
Did altering a historic landmark's color and chemistry contribute to the death of wildlife and persistent algae blooms?