Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool green with algae soon after renovation

(Gray News) - Quite a bit of algae was spotted in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool soon after the highly touted renovations were completed.

A CNN reporter spotted workers cleaning algae from the Pool’s edges a day after it was completely refilled.

When asked for comment, the Interior Department told CNN the algae are “residual” and normal in the early stages of restarting operations of the pool.

Interior Department Communications Director Kate Martin said the algae came from the supply lines, which were left unused for weeks as crews worked on renovations to the Reflecting Pool.

Martin said crews are working to remove the algae, and “a state-of-the-art ozone nanobubbler filtration system” that was installed will keep the pool clean of algae from now on.

In the last few weeks, President Donald Trump has promoted the $14.2 million renovations to the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

“The water is ON, the Reflecting Pool is reflecting, and D.C. is looking better than ever,” the White House said in a post on X last week, before the pool was completely filled.

According to CNN, there is no firm timeline for when the algae will be completely removed. A department official told the news agency they declined to speculate on a timeline because of recent rain.