President Trump's efforts to clear Reflecting Pool algae face criticism over broader environmental causes
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The White House has employed various methods to remove algae from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but scientists say pollution and climate change are the primary drivers of such blooms.
The administration has tried several techniques to eliminate algae from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, including draining, painting, applying hydrogen peroxide and using a system described by the Interior Department as “high-tech nanobubble ozone technology.”
Environmental experts argue that these measures address the symptom rather than the root causes. They point to runoff containing nutrients and rising temperatures linked to climate change as the main factors that promote excessive algal growth in the nation's capital.
"Without tackling pollution and the broader impacts of a warming climate, any short-term fix will likely be temporary," said a spokesperson for a regional water-quality organization.
Officials have not detailed a comprehensive plan to reduce nutrient inputs or mitigate climate-related effects, focusing instead on immediate visual improvements to the historic site.