Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool turns green days after $14.2 million restoration

Just days after a $14.2 million restoration and renovation were completed, the reflecting pool at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington was once again covered in green algae. Visitors who came expecting a freshly restored landmark instead found murky water and watched contractors working for the U.S. National Park Service slowly try to clean it.

The rapid return of the algae drew public frustration because the project had been presented as a major upgrade, including President Donald Trump’s push to paint the pool in an “American blue.” Barbara Baumgartner said the scene looked like “money thrown in the trash.” Another visitor, Terry Little, said, “I came here to see whether the water was blue as they planned. But I guess not.”

Workers at the site said the problem likely stemmed from the restoration work itself. Water supply lines were shut down for eight straight weeks, and when flow resumed, the disruption apparently contributed to the algae outbreak. The National Park Service is now using nanobubble technology, which is common in aquaculture, to fight the growth.

Officials said they cannot yet estimate how long the cleanup will take. Even so, some visitors tried to stay optimistic, and Little said that despite the disappointing water, “you still have the beauty of the water separating the memorials, and for me, that is the main thing.”