E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Children look at Ducks in the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial that is full of algae after recently being filled with water, on Sept. 26, in Washington, DC. National Park Service officials have hired a contractor to remove the algae that has appeared after a two year, $34 million renovation of the pool.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
A jogger runs past the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial that is full of algae after recently being filled with water on Sept. 26, in Washington, DC.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
A Duck is half way submerged in the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial that is full of algae after recently being filled with water, on Sept. 26, in Washington, DC.
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool reopened to the public at the end of August, after an almost two-year renovation costing $34 million. After being recently filled back up with water, it is now full of algae. Ironically, the new pool was intended to "improve the reflectivity of the water" with tinted concrete. According to Reuters:
"With this renovation, we have given the Reflecting Pool a much-needed overhaul and brought its engineering into the 21st century," Interior Secretary Ken Salazar said.
The 90-year-old pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial that also reflects the soaring Washington Monument had provided one of the capital's most-photographed views.
But the reflecting pool, which is about 160 feet wide and 2,100 feet long, had degraded badly over the decades.
Built on marshland without pilings for support, the original pool had sunk, causing cracks and leaks. The pool held 6.75 million gallons (25.6 million liters) of water but lost an estimated 500,000 gallons (1.9 million liters) a week to leaks and evaporation, the statement said.
Because the pool lacked a circulation system, it had to be emptied, cleaned and refilled twice a year. Read more.
Related links:
Less than a month after the memorial's extensive renovations, the shallow reflecting pool has been inundated with algae from incoming Tidal Basin water. NBC's Savannah Guthrie reports.
Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Tourist walk past the Reflecting Pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial that is full of algae after recently being filled with water, on Sept. 26, in Washington, DC.
Leave a Comment:
We have a lot of farm and landscape ponds here in MO and sure enough, especially in hot weather, algae is a huge problem. Physically removing it is a full time job and chemicals are not always the answer.Luckily there are fish that do a pretty good job. Catfish,carp and others will eat the stuff (if nothing better is being served).If they insist on just removing it, they should know that there are quite a few comercial uses for dried algae, so recycling it might pay for the cost(s) of removal!
Another green project failure !! they spent millions and now its worse than before . you would think the park services people would have a clue about cause and effect...
T'was the night before elections,
And all thru' the town,
Tempers were flaring
Emotions ran up and down.
I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap,
Had shut off the TV,
tired of political crap.
When all of a sudden,
There arose such a noise,
I peered out my window,
Saw Obama and his boys
They had come for my wallet,
They wanted my pay
To hand out to others
Who had not worked a day!
He snatched up my money,
And quick as a wink,
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink.
He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart.
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!
'On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, on Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!
They took off for his cause,
And as they flew out of sight,
I heard him laugh at a nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!
So I leave you to think on this one final note...
IF YOU DON'T WANT SOCIALISM GET OUT AND VOTE !!!!
Author unknown
Reflects the state of our country.
Less than 30 days after completing the $34million renovation, the reflection pool is as full of the filthy water as before. When the corrupt politicians can't even monitor a simple government project in their own backyard, the American taxpayer can imagine the massive looting occurring in the hundreds of billions of dollars of government contracts at home and abroad. Of course, the remedy to the stagnant filthy pool will cost the taxpayers another $10 million dollars.
On the other hand, the pool contract that created this mess is another example of a patriotic American contractor who rip-off the taxpayers. Next time, UncleSam should hire some Chinese coolies to reconstruct the reflection pool for one tenth the prevailing wage price.
@mike-2598123 1 word- stupid. I have nothing else to say except do not breed please... I can try to debate your whimsical tale but it would only bring the troll out in you...and nobody wants to see that.
Properly applied copper sulfate probably would have stopped it from the get go, and maybe still can. @Missourah makes a good point about fish although they would not make it through the winter.
That said, algae blooms are a fact of life in the US now. The reflecting pool is what the western basin of Lake Erie looks like all summer.
Our tax dollars hard at work, for nothing, thanks for the squandering of our money.
Squandering money is almost a requisite for a politician, pet projects, overpriced projects, worthless projects. If we don't need it, a politician wants it.
It would have been cheaper to tear it out and build another one. when does cleaning a pool cost the taxpayers 34 million.
This is a waste of the taxpayers money, and the people need to demand a full refund.
I guess the slime from Pennsylvania avenue must be leeching through.
AMAZING.....
Front PAGE article.
Sheeeesh.......NO FRONT PAGE ARTICLE about the Fiscal Cliff, National Debt, National Deficit, unemployment figures, budget sequestration cuts, Iran's dribble at the U.N., Egypt's turn coating, investigative report about the killing in Libya, etc., etc.
Heck, how about Mr. surrogate Mr. "Veto" Reid's comment about Mormons ON THE SENATE FLOOR ?
Heck, how about Cuttless slamming women ?
Heck, how about Mr. Obama's Stimulus worked ?
Heck, how about the crowds of folks in Greece and Spain filling the streets with fire bombs ?
Heck, how about unemployment benefits extension ?
Heck, how about the number of people on Food Stamps ?
Heck, how about the number of "pills" given out in NYC ?
Heck, how about students "revolting" against government mandated lunches ?
Heck, how about those HIGH gas/food/consumer goods prices ?
Heck, how about if the Feds QE3 is working ?
Nah, gotta have an article on "reflecting pools".
You do understand this is a website, and not a printed newspaper? I mean, I know it takes some serious effort to use the scroll wheel on a mouse, but if you exert yourself, you'll find dozens of stories on the "front page."
While I get your point and I don't know where you live but a printed newspaper is archaic. Online is the new newspaper. So yeah, they should probably cover just about anything important on the news websites. :)
Heck, if he did that, what would he have to complain about???
Who let the Obama's take a bath in there?
I live north of seattle on a golf course for over 20 yrs now. this is the first time we have ever had this kind of algae in our ponds too. Global warming? I dunno, just think it is weird that 2 different parts of the US have these issue with 2 different climates.
Excess phosphate, fertilizer run off. Phosphorus is the element that make the DNA backbone vital for plant and animal life.
You got it Rich.
Rich is right. We had gorgeous Lake Jackson. Bass fishing Mecca. People used to get 30 inch bass out of there. The two lane road was expanded to a divided 6 lane, strip malls, and an Interstate on one edge. The lakeside covered with mansions and the contractor grass treatment guys with the 2,000 gallons of solution spraying the yards so it looks like a golf green. Lake filled in with weeds and algae. No fish. Looked like a cesspool and was a dead lake before a sink hole opened in the bottom and 3/4 of it drained. Wherever the people congregate, nature dies.
Not in 2 days it wouldnt, they filled in Sept 26
I think it's great, and that they should leave it green. Green is the color of energy efficiency and pollution-free energy, and it's also a great tribute to our Irish American citizens. Have Green Day and St. Patrick Day celebrations there, and rededicate the reflecting pool to Wall Street, since green is also the color of our money.
Our Tax money at work Folks.
And by tax money, you mean your donations to the Trust for the National Mall.
We have this problem; the government can tackle this so wait until Obamacare!
I do not like this article. The reporter apparently did not interview anyone at the National Park Service and discover a reason for the algae. Also missing is a plan to eliminate the algae from the reflecting pool. This article is pointless.
Typical msn reporting, I am afraid...
not to worry,, it's just where our elected officials launder their dirty money,,,,
Don't worry. Obama has a plan. Just approve it and you can read about it later.
@John Voorhees You must have meant Mitt Romney...that is his slogan, not Obama's..
the video said they flooded the pool with tidal basin water which grows algea like crazy. $34 million worth of digging, engineering and concrete work. But nobody noticed the slimiy tidal basin when they drew that nasty crap up to fill the pool. So much for brainpower in gubmint and gubmint contractors. But everybody has cover - the gubmint employees can blame the contractor and the contractor doesn't care because sticks and stones will hurt his bones, but name calling can't be heard in his faraway mansion by the sea. Isn't this pretty much the story of gubmint ops in the US nowdays ?
Umm how about adding some of those...... oh what are they called...... vacuum fish? To eat the algae.
ok.... so why don't you start a fund to raise money to clean it NBCNews? That might give you some cred.... or at least have your idol, Barack Hussein Obama pick up the tab! He's a multi-millionaire now.. this might help him out as well! How much did he get for the D.Letterman/The View appearances? Probably a lot more cash than if he had met with some of the world leaders in town to see him, among other things. We've got a celebrity President, when we need a leader, lol!
Maybe the President is wealthy, but Romney is much richer - and obviously wants to keep every penny of his moola, god forbid he should pay his fair share in taxes to help with our deficit crisis.
Homesick, unless you have been under a rock for the past week, you would know that Romney paid more in taxes than required by not fully utilizing his deductions for charitable giving on his 2011 return. Second, the Romneys GAVE AWAY $4 million dollars to charity last year, which was 29% of their income. That doesn't sound greedy to me.
Further, it is obvious to anyone who can read a budget that our deficits are mostly caused by excessive spending, not a lack of tax revenue.
*facepalm*
What the matter, squidgod2000, too much common sense for you to handle?
Homesick, what percentage did you pay? was it 13 percent federal income tax on your gross adjusted income or more or did you get most of what you paid back when you filed your tax return?
Pay your fair share.... then worry about what others are paying.
No, just saddened that Rationalthinker doesn't understand what a deficit is or how it works. More tax revenue would mean smaller deficits, just like less spending would.
Squid, I understand how deficits work, but it appears that you don't know how to read. I clearly stated that our deficit problems are mostly a result of overspending. Not exclusively, but mostly.
Now go do some research and compare tax revenue with government expenditures, and it will be obvious where most of the problem lies.
Upvote for a downvote button....
Bill Thomas, you are an idiot! Love how a hater like yourself would place the blame on our President for the algae. BTW, President Obama didn't recieve any money for his appearances on either show. Hate to see what level of hate you will have when President Obama gets re-elected :-)
Greg, you aren't concerned when out President ignores the leaders of the world at a time when the middle east is 'on fire' to go on the David Letterman show and appear on The View... a morning show for women?
Bill is exactly right, Obama loves the celebrity status because it feeds his ego and narcissm and is truly inept as a leader. Have you ever heard the legend of Nero and how he fiddled during the burning of Rome? Obama is our Nero!
@Sally Rocks classically please stop hitting the pipe..really. Obama had no need to meet them. the state department (you have heard of that right??) conducts this, and nothing of any meetings would be of any use except for fodder to the right wingers(this means you) Damned if he does or damned if he don't.
Look at all that green algae in the pool and that looks bad for tourism. We have all those spring water bottles out there. Why can't we use them to fill up the pool? I don't know why we don't do that. It's a real problem.
NPK lawn fertilizer runoff feeds the algae. Stop with the NPK fertilizer, add a bunch of algae eating fish, by next year all will be OK (regardless of who is in the WH).
I want the entire pool scrubbed, sterilized and disinfected!!! lol
For Pete's sake, just throw some Clorox in the water! That'll kill the algae.
And then sue the company who did the renovation work. Obviously shoddy engineering.
Yank, you are the only one with any common sense. It works in my horse troughs and they can still drink the water just fine. Imagine that.... using a little common sense in Washington.... What a novel idea!
In order for that to work you would have to do it constantly to maintain a residual.
The EPA is being sued for testing lethal chemicals on human subjects! Fast and Furious failed to protect innocent people. A woman in DHS was kicked out for sexism. Obama failed to declared Libya a terrorist attack two weeks after the world did. The algae is just another example of the Obama appointees making a mess.
Just another example of doing a half a$$ job! It doesn't matter who or what is in charge, they are befuddled by problems. NO ONE ever solves anything!
Politicians: Lousy at leading, pros at squandering money.
Note: There are several effective ways to get this under control, the quick fix is available from well stocked hardware/agricultural center is add "copper sulfate" to the water. It does not take much for a pond this size.
Another way is to add metalic copper sheets, plates, bars, copper pennies to the bottom, it achieves the same affect, and last years longer.
For the home owner with a bird batch keep a flattened copper plumming pipe about a foot long to the water, it keeps the water free of green algae. Note the algae that is killed turns black so occassional cleaning is needed.
Copper is one of the elements least favored by plant life, way back in the Bronze Age, copper deposit were located by observing that only a few plants grew near copper deposits, tipping the observer who has habit of looking at how Mother Nature works.
Note: Sometime ago a program was started to give villagers, new plastic containers to carry and store water. This was done, but the villagers soon were getting sick from the water. They soon asked for their copper and brass water containers to be returned, and the illness cured. (Copper).
Did anyone see this infantile comment screen foul up? It is truely discusting.
Note: There are several effective ways to get this under control, the quick fix is available from well stocked hardware/agricultural center is add "copper sulfate" to the water. It does not take much for a pond this size.
Another way is to add metallic copper sheets, plates, bars, copper pennies to the bottom, it achieves the same affect, and last years longer.
For the home owner with a bird batch keep a flattened copper plumbing pipe about a foot long to the water, it keeps the water free of green algae. Note the algae that is killed turns black so occasional cleaning is needed.
Copper is one of the elements least favored by plant life, way back in the Bronze Age, copper deposit were located by observing that only a few plants grew near copper deposits, tipping the observer who has habit of looking at how Mother Nature works.
Note: Some time ago a program was started to give villagers, new plastic containers to carry and store water. This was done, but the villagers soon were getting sick from the water. They soon asked for their copper and brass water containers to be returned, and the illness cured. (Copper).
If you add all those chemicals, what are you going to do with the run-off???
The EPA and CAMA requires rain water to be stored and not allowed to drain into the ocean. The same regulations would prevent returning this chemically treated water into the tidal basin...
The modern solution is used by swimming pools around the world - Use a few chemicals to stabilize the PH and all recirculated/replacement water being exposed to ionization and UV light treatment. This has proven to be very effective and cost efficient...
Whenever a General Contractor does work for the U S Parks Service or Corps of Engineers he signs a Warranty Letter. The article says the pool is 2,100 feet X 160 feet or 336,000 s/f. The contract amount was $34 million or $101.00 per square foot. Get the Contractor back in to fix the work if that is what it is.
Good Job Washington ! 34 million reno and then fill it with sewer run off ! Idiots !
With all the scum in DC I'm not surprised.
It's a pond not a swimming pool for gods sake. Fill it up with water Lillie's and gold fish and toss in some frogs and such. There is a solution to this problem and it's not mitt romney
They redesigned it to use Sewer water ! Morons !
Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
Schedule: Construction underway Completion anticipated August, 2012
Location: Between World II Memorial and Lincoln Memorial.
Goals of project:
• Replace leaking concrete pool on new pilings to bedrock
• Retain existing coping stones of pool
• Install systems for drawing water from Tidal Basin rather than from city drinking water, and for cleaning and re-circulating the water
• Install sidewalks adjacent to the pool in place of existing dirt paths
• Resurface North and South Elm Walks and install new lights and benches
• Complete the perimeter security for the Lincoln Memorial at the west end of the pool
• Improve accessibility from the pool level to the Memorial Plaza level
Impacts/opportunities for visitor to consider:
• Construction vehicles enter and exit on Independence Avenue
• Pedestrian access is limited to either the North Elm Walk or the South Elm Walk, depending on the phase of work.
• While the pool is closed and the reflection of the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial in the pool is temporarily not available, an interesting view of the historic rebuilding project is available from three sides.
• Lincoln Memorial, Korean War Veterans and Vietnam Veterans Memorials will remain open throughout the construction project.
Funding: ARRA funding, $30.7 M
Contractor: Corman Construction, Inc.
"Install systems for drawing water from Tidal Basin rather than from city drinking water, and for cleaning and re-circulating the water." The tidal pool is 3-4 foot deep and high temperatures may have caused algae to grow. Did Gorman Construction submit the proper pumps and filters? I would guess they did being where the Reflecting pool is, Washington, DC. So if must be the engineering firm that drew the plans and the US Park Service construction team for approving the equipment system. Not enough reason for you to call people Morons. You with your racists face paint Ikon but typical Republican anger.
I guess they need to add an airation system. Dissolved oxygen and filtration system will help keep the water from getting stagnant.....
Another typical government screw up. The pond needs aeration, either through a compressor system pumping air, or through fountains. I have a 2 acre pond and added aeration this year with a fountain. It has completely eliminated my algae problem. And it didn't cost $34 mil! (About a thousand dollars) The other thing that will help is to add Crystal blue, a dye that makes the water blue. The darker color blocks the sunlight which helps cut algae growth.
Another 60 million dollars wasted, yet the Government will spend more millions to fix it, when they should make the contractors fix it. But won't go that route because the contractor would go broke and we can't have that because he has tie's to politician's to give him contracts. Washington don't have a green problem ,it has a Black problem.
what exactly do you mean by "black problem" ?? really, explain yourself...show some cojones ...just sayin;)
Your "black problem" reply is the only one of yours I actually agree with in this vine, lostinvegas.