THE HALFAX HEIMDALL AUGUR

NPR How and why algae clouded Trump's vision for an 'American flag blue' Reflecting Pool NPR | By Rachel Treisman Published June 19, 2026 at 8:43 AM PDT Facebook Twitter Bluesky LinkedIn Email Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images National Park Service employees use a vacuum pump to clean algae off the bottom of the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday. WASHINGTON — The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is once again making headlines, this week for turning green. The Washington, D.C. landmark was refilled with water earlier this month after President Trump had its neutral grey bottom repainted "American flag blue." The multi-million dollar project produced subtle results in the eyes of many observers, even as Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum — whose agency managed the renovation — touted its success. In recent days, however, the pool has taken on a verdant hue — the result of algae blooms that experts say are to be expected in these conditions. "It's called 'New Pond Syndrome,'" says Steve Goodale, a Canadian swimming pool specialist known online as " Swimming Pool Steve ." "It's a known thing that happens when you take a natural,…

NPR How and why algae clouded Trump's vision for an 'American flag blue' Reflecting Pool NPR | By Rachel Treisman Published June 19, 2026 at 8:43 AM PDT Facebook Twitter Bluesky LinkedIn Email Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images National Park Service employees use a vacuum pump to clean algae off the bottom of the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday. WASHINGTON — The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is once again making headlines, this week for turning green. The Washington, D.C. landmark was refilled with water earlier this month after President Trump had its neutral grey bottom repainted "American flag blue." The multi-million dollar project produced subtle results in the eyes of many observers, even as Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum — whose agency managed the renovation — touted its success. In recent days, however, the pool has taken on a verdant hue — the result of algae blooms that experts say are to be expected in these conditions. "It's called 'New Pond Syndrome,'" says Steve Goodale, a Canadian swimming pool specialist known online as " Swimming Pool Steve ." "It's a known thing that happens when you take a natural,…

Now 78° Wed 86° Thu 89° A ***FLOOD WATCH*** is in effect for all of SE Texas through Thursday morning. Stay w/ Your Weather Authority for the latest. byNATALIA MITTELSTADT | The National News Desk WASHINGTON (TNND) —Green algae have returned to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after President Trump's renovation, according to photos, but the Interior Department says it was expected. The renovationprojectcost about $14 million and included adding nanobubbler technology that has “successfully destroyed the algae,” according to the DOI,The Hill reported. A department spokesperson told The Hill on Monday that “due to deploying the advanced nanobubbler technology,” the algae are “dead” and “being vacuumed up as we speak.” “We thank President Trump for fixing the Reflecting Pool for good,” the spokesperson added. According to a federal contract between the DOI and Green Water Solutions, the nanobubbler technology is intended to help cut down on the algae's food supply. Since the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool opened in 1922, algae have plagued the site. “President Donald J. Trump is an expert builder who has fixed the Reflecting Pool for good unlike the failed and extr…

BREAKING: The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has successfully completed its transition into a renewable-energy wetland. Officials confirm this was all part of Trump’s long-term plan to “Make Photosynthesis Great Again.”

Algae are turning the Reflecting Pool green. Trump wants it 'American ... The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool appeared green because of algae growth Monday. Graeme Sloan / Bloomberg via Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google June 16, 2026, 2:09 PM EDT / Updated June 16, 2026, 5:44 PM EDT By Megan Lebowitz and Monica Alba The Trump administration has spent millions renovating the Reflecting Pool on the National Mall to make it “American flag blue” in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations. Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content. But even faster than it was refurbished, the water has turned to a dark green — thanks to algae growth. The new hue comes despite significant cost and controversy, and is something of a stumble after boasts by President Donald Trump about how he was able to make the famous landmark look so much better than his predecessors did. Last month, he drove over the Reflecting Pool as it was under construction, boasting about the beautiful blue color it would be. “It never had the color people wanted, but now it’s going to have the great color,” he said at the time. But after last weekend…

Now 78° Wed 86° Thu 89° A ***FLOOD WATCH*** is in effect for all of SE Texas through Thursday morning. Stay w/ Your Weather Authority for the latest. byNATALIA MITTELSTADT | The National News Desk WASHINGTON (TNND) —Green algae have returned to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after President Trump's renovation, according to photos, but the Interior Department says it was expected. The renovationprojectcost about $14 million and included adding nanobubbler technology that has “successfully destroyed the algae,” according to the DOI,The Hill reported. A department spokesperson told The Hill on Monday that “due to deploying the advanced nanobubbler technology,” the algae are “dead” and “being vacuumed up as we speak.” “We thank President Trump for fixing the Reflecting Pool for good,” the spokesperson added. According to a federal contract between the DOI and Green Water Solutions, the nanobubbler technology is intended to help cut down on the algae's food supply. Since the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool opened in 1922, algae have plagued the site. “President Donald J. Trump is an expert builder who has fixed the Reflecting Pool for good unlike the failed and extr…

Park Service continues to battle algae in renovated Reflecting Pool Interior Department says it's using nanobubble technology to break up the green. The National Park Service continued a push Tuesday to eradicate algae from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool as tourists and locals gathered to view the green-tinged water. The Department of Interior has deployed both a hydrogen peroxide treatment and nanobubble ozone technology, a DOI spokesperson said, to rid the pool of algae blooms that have discolored the landmark and marred the rollout of President Donald Trump's renovation project. Algae bloomed late last week just days after the completion of the renovation, turning the pool from deep blue to green and murky. A DOI spokesperson told CNN in a statement that the algae was "residual" and came from reactivated supply lines. Workers were spotted dumping hydrogen peroxide into the pool Tuesday morning in videos posted to X. The nanobubble ozone technology is "actively killing algae" and other contaminants, the spokesperson wrote. The nanobubble process releases tiny gas bubbles filled with ozone into the water, which helps to eliminate algae blooms. Rangers from the Nationa…

NPR How and why algae clouded Trump's vision for an 'American flag blue' Reflecting Pool NPR | By Rachel Treisman Published June 19, 2026 at 8:43 AM PDT Facebook Twitter Bluesky LinkedIn Email Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images National Park Service employees use a vacuum pump to clean algae off the bottom of the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday. WASHINGTON — The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is once again making headlines, this week for turning green. The Washington, D.C. landmark was refilled with water earlier this month after President Trump had its neutral grey bottom repainted "American flag blue." The multi-million dollar project produced subtle results in the eyes of many observers, even as Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum — whose agency managed the renovation — touted its success. In recent days, however, the pool has taken on a verdant hue — the result of algae blooms that experts say are to be expected in these conditions. "It's called 'New Pond Syndrome,'" says Steve Goodale, a Canadian swimming pool specialist known online as " Swimming Pool Steve ." "It's a known thing that happens when you take a natural,…

Algae turns newly renovated D.C. reflecting pool green again Algae has Washington, D.C.'s newly renovated reflecting pool turning green. Again. Algae has Washington, D.C.'s newly renovated reflecting pool turning green. Again. Updated: 8:53 PM EDT Jun 15, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Jocelyn Brumbaugh Sr Digital Curator Advertisement Algae has Washington, D.C.'s newly renovated reflecting pool turning green. Again. Updated: 8:53 PM EDT Jun 15, 2026 Editorial Standards ⓘ Jocelyn Brumbaugh Sr Digital Curator Although recently refilled and repainted, the reflecting pools in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., are turning green again. The reason? Residual algae. The algae was visible from the water's edge a day after the reservoir was filled, after renovations and workers could be seen clearing algae from the bottom of the pool last week. An Interior Department spokesperson told CNN the algae is residual and a normal part of the early process of restarting operations at the reflecting pool. “What you are seeing is residual algae from the supply lines, which have been sitting dormant for eight weeks while construction has been taking place. It’s part of the normal startup…

Algae turns newly renovated D.C. reflecting pool green again <p>The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is turning green again after renovations. The Interior Department says the algae is residual and being removed.</p>

[1/3] 2026-06-19 14:19:56 - [After heavy renovation, algae breaks out in the reflecting pool of the Lincoln Memorial] The reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial in the United States suffered from an algae outbreak just after it was renovated this month, causing many

BREAKING: The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has successfully completed its transition into a renewable-energy wetland. Officials confirm this was all part of Trump’s long-term plan to “Make Photosynthesis Great Again.”

Why the Reflecting Pool Is Full of Algae After Trump's Renovation Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story On Wednesday morning, workers poured hydrogen peroxide into the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, DC. The treatment is the latest attempt by the Interior Department to control an algae bloom that has turned the pool bright green, despite President Donald Trump's costly renovation to make it “American flag blue” in time for the nation’s 250th anniversary . Hot temperatures and climate change are among the risk factors that could be driving the outbreak. The Trump administration spent more than $14 million to update the pool ahead of celebrations across the US capital . The work was done under a no-bid contract by a company that has never worked for the federal government. (It has, however, worked on President Donald Trump’s golf courses, according to The New York Times .) Algae began forming less than a day after the updated pool was unveiled last week. An Interior Department spokesperson told CNN that the bloom was due to “residual algae from the supply lines, which have been sitting dormant for eight weeks.” One of the…

Now 78° Wed 86° Thu 89° A ***FLOOD WATCH*** is in effect for all of SE Texas through Thursday morning. Stay w/ Your Weather Authority for the latest. byNATALIA MITTELSTADT | The National News Desk WASHINGTON (TNND) —Green algae have returned to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after President Trump's renovation, according to photos, but the Interior Department says it was expected. The renovationprojectcost about $14 million and included adding nanobubbler technology that has “successfully destroyed the algae,” according to the DOI,The Hill reported. A department spokesperson told The Hill on Monday that “due to deploying the advanced nanobubbler technology,” the algae are “dead” and “being vacuumed up as we speak.” “We thank President Trump for fixing the Reflecting Pool for good,” the spokesperson added. According to a federal contract between the DOI and Green Water Solutions, the nanobubbler technology is intended to help cut down on the algae's food supply. Since the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool opened in 1922, algae have plagued the site. “President Donald J. Trump is an expert builder who has fixed the Reflecting Pool for good unlike the failed and extr…

Opinion: Algae doesn't care about our party lines By Scott Simon Published June 20, 2026 at 5:00 AM PDT Facebook WhatsApp Email Listen • 2:40 Mark Schiefelbein / AP A National Park Service employee uses a vacuum to clean the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool has witnessed more than a century of American history, in all its heartbreak and majesty. Crowds have gathered around it in protest and in praise to denounce American wars, and hear great voices sing and speak. Today, it's the center of a slimy controversy. President Trump said in April he found the water in the reflecting pool "filthy" and "disgusting." He authorized a no-bid contract to resurface the basin of the 2,000-foot long pool, and paint it "American flag blue" in time for July 4th celebrations. Advertisement Become a KPBS sponsor "I have a guy who's unbelievable at doing swimming pools," the president crowed, before the National Park Service gave out no-bid contracts for sealing and upgrades. After weeks of renovation, the project has cost taxpayers more than $14 million and… the reflecting pool looks green. And I mean green. Like the Chicago River on S…

NPR How and why algae clouded Trump's vision for an 'American flag blue' Reflecting Pool NPR | By Rachel Treisman Published June 19, 2026 at 8:43 AM PDT Facebook Twitter Bluesky LinkedIn Email Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images National Park Service employees use a vacuum pump to clean algae off the bottom of the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday. WASHINGTON — The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is once again making headlines, this week for turning green. The Washington, D.C. landmark was refilled with water earlier this month after President Trump had its neutral grey bottom repainted "American flag blue." The multi-million dollar project produced subtle results in the eyes of many observers, even as Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum — whose agency managed the renovation — touted its success. In recent days, however, the pool has taken on a verdant hue — the result of algae blooms that experts say are to be expected in these conditions. "It's called 'New Pond Syndrome,'" says Steve Goodale, a Canadian swimming pool specialist known online as " Swimming Pool Steve ." "It's a known thing that happens when you take a natural,…

NPR How and why algae clouded Trump's vision for an 'American flag blue' Reflecting Pool NPR | By Rachel Treisman Published June 19, 2026 at 8:43 AM PDT Facebook Twitter Bluesky LinkedIn Email Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images National Park Service employees use a vacuum pump to clean algae off the bottom of the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday. WASHINGTON — The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is once again making headlines, this week for turning green. The Washington, D.C. landmark was refilled with water earlier this month after President Trump had its neutral grey bottom repainted "American flag blue." The multi-million dollar project produced subtle results in the eyes of many observers, even as Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum — whose agency managed the renovation — touted its success. In recent days, however, the pool has taken on a verdant hue — the result of algae blooms that experts say are to be expected in these conditions. "It's called 'New Pond Syndrome,'" says Steve Goodale, a Canadian swimming pool specialist known online as " Swimming Pool Steve ." "It's a known thing that happens when you take a natural,…

NPR How and why algae clouded Trump's vision for an 'American flag blue' Reflecting Pool NPR | By Rachel Treisman Published June 19, 2026 at 8:43 AM PDT Facebook Twitter Bluesky LinkedIn Email Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images National Park Service employees use a vacuum pump to clean algae off the bottom of the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday. WASHINGTON — The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is once again making headlines, this week for turning green. The Washington, D.C. landmark was refilled with water earlier this month after President Trump had its neutral grey bottom repainted "American flag blue." The multi-million dollar project produced subtle results in the eyes of many observers, even as Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum — whose agency managed the renovation — touted its success. In recent days, however, the pool has taken on a verdant hue — the result of algae blooms that experts say are to be expected in these conditions. "It's called 'New Pond Syndrome,'" says Steve Goodale, a Canadian swimming pool specialist known online as " Swimming Pool Steve ." "It's a known thing that happens when you take a natural,…

NPR How and why algae clouded Trump's vision for an 'American flag blue' Reflecting Pool NPR | By Rachel Treisman Published June 19, 2026 at 8:43 AM PDT Facebook Twitter Bluesky LinkedIn Email Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images National Park Service employees use a vacuum pump to clean algae off the bottom of the newly repainted Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on Tuesday. WASHINGTON — The Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool is once again making headlines, this week for turning green. The Washington, D.C. landmark was refilled with water earlier this month after President Trump had its neutral grey bottom repainted "American flag blue." The multi-million dollar project produced subtle results in the eyes of many observers, even as Trump and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum — whose agency managed the renovation — touted its success. In recent days, however, the pool has taken on a verdant hue — the result of algae blooms that experts say are to be expected in these conditions. "It's called 'New Pond Syndrome,'" says Steve Goodale, a Canadian swimming pool specialist known online as " Swimming Pool Steve ." "It's a known thing that happens when you take a natural,…

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Is Now Green: 4 Possible Reasons ... By Alice Gibbs Senior Life and Trends Reporter 0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. A multimillion-dollar renovation of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool —designed to give the historic landmark a deeper “American flag blue” finish—appears to have had an unintended consequence: the water already looks green. Images of the pool from the last few days show algae spreading across the surface just days after the pool was refilled, raising questions about whether the redesign has altered conditions in ways that favor rapid blooms. The overhaul, ordered by President Donald Trump as part of a broader effort to revamp the National Mall ahead of the U.S. 250th anniversary, involved resurfacing the century-old pool with a dark blue coating intended to improve its appearance and seal leaks. The pool was drained earlier this year to allow for repairs to its aging basin and infrastructure, crews then moved in to resurface the interior with the darker coating designed to deliver the “America…

Now 78° Wed 86° Thu 89° A ***FLOOD WATCH*** is in effect for all of SE Texas through Thursday morning. Stay w/ Your Weather Authority for the latest. byNATALIA MITTELSTADT | The National News Desk WASHINGTON (TNND) —Green algae have returned to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after President Trump's renovation, according to photos, but the Interior Department says it was expected. The renovationprojectcost about $14 million and included adding nanobubbler technology that has “successfully destroyed the algae,” according to the DOI,The Hill reported. A department spokesperson told The Hill on Monday that “due to deploying the advanced nanobubbler technology,” the algae are “dead” and “being vacuumed up as we speak.” “We thank President Trump for fixing the Reflecting Pool for good,” the spokesperson added. According to a federal contract between the DOI and Green Water Solutions, the nanobubbler technology is intended to help cut down on the algae's food supply. Since the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool opened in 1922, algae have plagued the site. “President Donald J. Trump is an expert builder who has fixed the Reflecting Pool for good unlike the failed and extr…