- Blue material is peeling off the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool days after its refilling.
- Floating paint pieces and an algae bloom are raising concerns at the newly repainted Reflecting Pool.
- Some of the new "American Flag Blue" paint used to coat the bottom appears to be peeling away.
- National Park Service crews spent Thursday treating the water with hydrogen peroxide and vacuuming dead algae from the bottom of the pool.
- The pool's renovation was ordered by President Trump and cost about $14 million, far exceeding initial estimates.
- It is unclear if the material is paint or sealant, and it’s unclear what caused it to come up.
- Experts warn that some algal blooms can produce toxins that are harmful to both people and animals.
- In 2012, President Barack Obama’s administration spent $34 million on an 18-month renovation of the pool.
- The renovations were initially estimated to cost $1.8 million. It appears the cost of the project is now up to $14.7 million.
- Dark blue flecks of paint could also be seen floating on the surface, though it remains unclear what caused the material to rise.
Concerns are escalating regarding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, where blue paint is peeling and algae blooms are forming shortly after a costly renovation. The project, ordered by President Trump, ballooned to $14 million, significantly higher than the initial $1.8 million estimate.259
Images show sections of the new "American Flag Blue" paint detaching from the pool's bottom, with reports indicating that a 2- to 3-foot section near the edge is particularly affected. Derek Amspaugh, a visitor from Columbus, Ohio, expressed concern, stating, “It’s definitely concerning, yeah; you’re spending $11 million, you’d like to see quality work being done.”
In addition to the paint issues, a large algae bloom has spread across the pool, prompting federal crews to treat the water with hydrogen peroxide and vacuum dead algae. Dr. Wayne Carmichael, a biological sciences professor, noted that minerals and nutrients left in the system when the pool was refilled may have fueled the algae bloom, exacerbated by the warmer water from the darker surface.
Experts warn that some algal blooms can produce toxins harmful to both people and animals, raising further alarm about the pool's condition. Tim Auerhahn, a pool infrastructure expert, remarked on the difficulty of diagnosing the issues from available footage, indicating a need for thorough investigation.7
“The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is facing issues with peeling blue paint and an algae bloom shortly after a $14 million renovation. Experts are investigating the causes of these problems, which have raised concerns about the quality of the work done.”
WTOP
WUSA9