America’s Progress Against Algae at Lincoln Reflecting Pool
President Trump, alongside the Department of the Interior, has announced a significant achievement in the fight against algae at the Lincoln Reflecting Pool.
On Sunday, Trump shared a photo on Truth Social that showcases the pool’s clear blue waters reflecting the Washington Monument. He also displayed a “wanted” poster seeking information about those responsible for damaging government property.
In his post, Trump stated, “The U.S. Park Police is asking for help identifying the individuals listed in the notices below related to an investigation on the destruction of government property concerning the Reflecting Pool.”
The President additionally released a statement from the Interior Department commending the use of “advanced nanobubbler technology” which, according to the National Park Service, has successfully tackled algae problems that have haunted the pool’s reopenings since 1922, most notably during President Obama’s term.
Greg Wisher, who is the founder of Dei Gratia Minerals and serves as Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Mineral Management, indicated that this technology has significantly improved water clarity. He communicated this in a letter shared with both Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Trump’s photo captured the Lincoln Reflecting Pool extending toward the Washington Monument on a bright day. One image offers a view from the Lincoln Memorial side while another highlights the monument’s reflection.
He also shared a post from US Interior Press discussing Wisher’s announcement about the technological success and its implications for maintaining water clarity.
His post continued, noting, “Vacuuming is the final maintenance step after refilling the pool, expected to wrap up in a few days.”
The memo detailed that portions of the Reflecting Pool, particularly near the Lincoln Memorial, have already been vacuumed, revealing a vibrant blue American flag motif at the bottom.
Trump’s Interior Department praised the new technology for addressing previous challenges in keeping the pools clean, particularly referencing former President Obama’s experience.
“Previous administrations struggled with maintaining clean reflecting pools, especially after refills when the water rapidly became murky,” the memo pointed out.
It described the effectiveness of the nanobubbler and vacuum methods, noting how the water now displays a bright blue clarity reminiscent of the American flag.
Burgum commented on the 6.75 million-gallon pool, which has faced numerous challenges, particularly from critics of Trump. He remarked on ABC’s “This Week” that the pool has been a significant success despite some vandalism, which, he believes, is manageable.
“With a population of 340 million celebrating the 250th anniversary, some incidents of vandalism surfaced, but they’re all fixable and will be addressed in the coming weeks,” he added.
Burgum mentioned the possibility of not needing to fully drain the pool after addressing damages from “multiple cuts of up to 350 feet.” He remarked, “Maybe we can drain just part of it, or repair it without having to empty the whole thing, which could facilitate a quicker solution.”
While some critics highlight the costs of the renovation efforts, Burgum emphasized the unforeseen vandalism as a critical factor to consider.
He noted, “We didn’t anticipate a small group attempting to damage part of the Lincoln Memorial. There’s been considerable camera coverage around Lincoln’s monuments, but the reflecting pool had been safe from vandalism for decades.”
