Concerns Over Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Restoration Addressed
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum recently expressed in an interview that the attention surrounding the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool’s restoration is, frankly, exaggerated and even a bit humorous. Before the work began, he noted that the pool was leaking around 45,000 gallons of water daily.
“This pool is eight acres,” Burgum stated, emphasizing its vastness. He compared it to the scale of placing the Washington Monument on top of the Empire State Building to illustrate just how large the pool is—it stretches over 2,000 feet.
During Barack Obama’s presidency, efforts were made to restore the reflecting pool, including a two-year closure and an investment of $38 million, but these attempts didn’t yield lasting results.
“The repairs didn’t hold up. It continued to leak after they classified it as a green project, aimed at conserving city water. They started using water from the Potomac River, which led to algae growth,” Burgum explained. He remarked that from aerial views, the pool, instead of appearing blue, looked distinctly green.
He pointed out, “In the aerial photo, it’s completely green, because it was filled with algae.”
Eventually, President Trump learned about the issues plaguing the Reflecting Pool from an international visitor, which spurred action.
“He wanted it cleaned up. We began looking into it,” a Trump administration official revealed.
This extensive project involves a variety of tasks, including drainage work, sandblasting, pipe repairs, and installation of bubblers. Burgum shared that the pool’s underside was typically gray, noting that a century ago, darker colors were chosen for better reflection.
“With a pool, you want a light blue bottom to see the depth clearly for safety. But for a reflective pool, darker is better. President Trump opted for a blue matching the Stars and Stripes, ideal for reflection,” he asserted.
Interestingly, Burgum recounted a moment of surprise with the primer’s color, which was much lighter than expected.
He admitted that seeing some of the media coverage had him nearly lose focus, as the discussion centered around the color, which was just the primer before completing the industrial liner.
Burgum elaborated that the project will also include “2.5 miles of expansion joints.”
He explained that with a structure that long in the climate of Washington, D.C., it’s essential to manage significant expansion and contraction to prevent leaks. “Before we started this process two months ago, it was leaking 45,000 gallons a day,” he mentioned.
“We had to keep water running continuously to maintain stability. We are working with a master builder to ensure everything is handled properly,” he remarked, adding, “President Trump is the only person who has ever held this office with such experience in complex construction projects. He truly appreciates construction workers and understands these undertakings thoroughly.”
