Blue Paint Peels from Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Amid Ongoing Algae Issues
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool's recent renovation has exceeded its budget and faced problems with algae growth, leading to visible peeling of the newly applied blue paint.
The renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has run into cost overruns and maintenance challenges. Federal spending data shows the project, initially projected at under $2 million, has risen to more than $14.6 million.
After the pool was painted a Trump-branded “American flag blue,” algae quickly turned the water green, prompting crews to treat the pool with hydrogen peroxide. Recent observations show sections of the blue coating lifting and flaking, with strips of paint floating on the surface and exposing the darker underlying layer. Algae remain visible along the pool’s edges despite continued cleaning efforts.
The Interior Department’s social-media account reported that “advanced nanobubbler technology very effectively killed the algae,” and noted that staff are vacuuming dead algae from the bottom of the pool. The department did not respond to a request for comment.
