Did any JPP leftist complain when Obama's 34 million project was finished?

From 2012:

The Post reports that algae has quickly bloomed in the new Reflecting Pool—some on the surface, some on the bottom—making it look like pea soup in some areas. The algae is blamed on a change in the source of the water—it’s being drawn from the Tidal Basin instead of from D.C. water reservoirs—a shallower pool that allows algae to bloom more quickly and some fine-tuning that has to be done on the amount of ozone in the water:

dcist.com

Lincoln Memorial Reflecting/Algae Pool Looking Better After Costly Renovation | DCist

Despite a $34 million renovation, algae blooms have started appearing in the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool.
dcist.com

However I am told that city water was used this time.
 
Re the claim that the dark paint makes the water warmer and thus algae grows better the first thing to look at is whether the water is running warmer than it used to.

If we only had journalists.
 

Lincoln Memorial infested with green algae​


Less than a month after the memorial’s extensive renovations, the shallow reflecting pool has been inundated with algae . NBC’s Savannah Guthrie reports.


www.nbcnews.com

Lincoln Memorial infested with green algae

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.
www.nbcnews.com www.nbcnews.com
 
T. A. Gardner said:
The guy is right and wrong all at once. What needs to happen to fix this is circulation of the water at a reasonable and steady rate along with aeration.
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Might work, at that. Problem is, they want it to reflect the Washington Monument. Moving water might not be the way to go. Maybe fill the pool with a thin sheet of Mylar instead of water. :rofl2:

T. A. Gardner said:
Maybe add a few autonomous cleaning robots that collect all the muck that gets on the bottom.
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DC has plenty of inmates that would suffice.
 
Diogenes said:
Might work, at that. Problem is, they want it to reflect the Washington Monument. Moving water might not be the way to go. Maybe fill the pool with a thin sheet of Mylar instead of water. :rofl2:



DC has plenty of inmates that would suffice.
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That's why you run the system for say, like 6 to 8 hours at night, from say midnight to 6 or 8 in the morning.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
That's why you run the system for say, like 6 to 8 hours at night, from say midnight to 6 or 8 in the morning.
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Hmm.

Grok:

Nighttime aeration could be a partial or supplementary help for algae control in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but it is unlikely to be a complete or primary long-term solution on its own. Here's a breakdown based on the pool's characteristics and general pond/lake management practices:


Why It Could Help (in Theory)​


  • Oxygenation: Aeration increases dissolved oxygen, which benefits aerobic bacteria that compete with algae for nutrients and can help break down organic matter. Low oxygen at night (from plant/algae respiration) can exacerbate issues.
  • Nighttime-specific: Running aerators at night minimizes surface disturbance during daylight hours when reflections are most important for visitors. It could also slightly reduce water temperature buildup compared to daytime operation in hot summers. Some pond owners use this strategy seasonally.
  • The pool already has some aeration elements (e.g., nanobubblers mentioned in recent treatments), and crews have pushed algae toward central aeration zones.

Major Limitations for This Pool​


  • Shallow & Large Surface Area: The Reflecting Pool is very shallow (typically 1–3 feet deep in places) and enormous (~2,000 feet long). Algae thrives here due to sunlight penetration to the bottom, warmth (especially with the dark blue coating absorbing heat), and nutrient inputs (bird droppings, runoff). Aeration helps circulation but doesn't block light or remove nutrients effectively in such a setup.
  • Aesthetic/Functional Conflict: Strong aeration during the day would create bubbles, ripples, and turbidity, destroying the famous mirror-like reflections. Night-only helps, but the system would need to be powerful enough to mix the entire volume effectively.
  • Not a Root Fix: Experts note that algae blooms here are driven by nutrients + warmth + stagnation + sunlight. Aeration alone doesn't address nutrient loading or the design. Past efforts (2012 filtration switch, recent peroxide/nanobubbles) show it's a persistent challenge.
  • Practical Challenges: Installing/maintaining sufficient aerators in a historic public monument (without harming wildlife or the ecosystem) would be costly and complex. It could help as part of a broader strategy (better filtration, circulation, occasional chemical treatments like peroxide, or even UV), but not standalone.

Feasibility Verdict: Technically possible as a low-impact supplement (especially at night), but not a silver bullet. A combination approach—improved continuous circulation/filtration, nutrient reduction (e.g., goose management), and targeted treatments—would be more effective, as seen in similar large shallow water bodies. The NPS has used aeration elements before; expanding it could be explored, but engineering assessments would be needed.
 
Diogenes said:
Might work, at that. Problem is, they want it to reflect the Washington Monument. Moving water might not be the way to go. Maybe fill the pool with a thin sheet of Mylar instead of water. :rofl2:



DC has plenty of inmates that would suffice.
Click to expand...
That's why you run the system for say, like 6 to 8 hours at night, from say midnight to 6 or 8 in the morning.
 
T. A. Gardner said:
That's why you run the system for say, like 6 to 8 hours at night, from say midnight to 6 or 8 in the morning.
Click to expand...


Pitch it to the NPS.

Grok:

What the NPS Has Done/Uses​


  • Aeration-related: They have used and upgraded nanobubble ozone systems (which introduce tiny oxygen/ozone bubbles for circulation and algae control). Crews also direct algae toward central aeration zones during cleanups. These are active during operations but not explicitly "nighttime only."
  • Cleaning/Scrubbing: Manual and mechanical methods dominate—skimmers, vacuums, brooms, and "Super Scrubbers" (vehicles that push debris/algae). They occasionally drain for deeper cleaning. No mention of autonomous underwater robots or automated scrubbers in available reports.

Why These Ideas Might Not Have Been Prioritized​


  • Aesthetics: The pool's primary purpose is calm, mirror-like reflections. Continuous or strong aeration (even at night) risks bubbles/ripples that could linger or require daytime management.
  • Scale & Design: It's a massive, shallow, historic feature tied to a sensitive ecosystem (Tidal Basin connection). Major additions like automated systems would need environmental/historic preservation approvals and could be costly.
  • Current Approach: Focus has been on filtration upgrades, peroxide treatments, manual vacuuming, and water source management (city water vs. Tidal Basin). These address symptoms without overhauling the historic design.

Feasibility Note: Both ideas are used successfully in ponds/lakes elsewhere (night aeration for oxygen without daytime disturbance; robotic scrubbers for large pools).
 
Diogenes said:
Practical Challenges: Installing/maintaining sufficient aerators in a historic public monument (without harming wildlife or the ecosystem) would be costly and complex. It could help as part of a broader strategy (better filtration, circulation, occasional chemical treatments like peroxide, or even UV), but not standalone.
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The algae is wildlife, so there is no way to kill the algae without harming any wildlife.
 
Diogenes said:
90

Algae in the reflecting pool​



The continued presence of green algae in the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool remained a topic of conversation among visitors and tourists to the National Mall this weekend in Washington D.C. The algae appeared less than a month after the reopening of the pool following a $34 million renovation. Park officials told WJLA recently that the algae is on its way out following adjustments to the pool's ozone levels.

Scenes photographed Sept. 29, 2012.




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Some actually did, but Obama spent the funds to correct problems that hadn’t been addressed in eighty years and not to just color the water because he liked the color

“Repairs done under Obama addressed issues such as stagnant water, as well as the reality that the pool had begun to leak and sink into the land dredged from the Potomac River to build it. It was reengineered with a circulation and filtration system using river water from the nearby Tidal Basin instead of city drinking water. It was also made shallower to save water and its bottom was tinted gray to make the water darker and more reflective of the Washington Monument. Plus, paved paths were added.” (https://apnews.com/article/trump-re...den-millions-c261ebc9898149002bb384a084e49b27)
 
archives said:
Some actually did, but Obama spent the funds to correct problems that hadn’t been addressed in eighty years and not to just color the water because he liked the color

“Repairs done under Obama addressed issues such as stagnant water, as well as the reality that the pool had begun to leak and sink into the land dredged from the Potomac River to build it. It was reengineered with a circulation and filtration system using river water from the nearby Tidal Basin instead of city drinking water. It was also made shallower to save water and its bottom was tinted gray to make the water darker and more reflective of the Washington Monument. Plus, paved paths were added.” (https://apnews.com/article/trump-re...den-millions-c261ebc9898149002bb384a084e49b27)
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The 2012 project wasn't purely altruistic "fixing 80 years of neglect" without its own controversies—and the 2026 work isn't just cosmetic either.

2012 Renovation​

  • Yes, Anchovies, the pool had suffered decades of deterioration under both parties' leadership—leaks, sinking into the ground, structural failure, stagnation, and recurring algae. By the early 2000s, it was in bad shape and needed a comprehensive overhaul. The Obama project used stimulus funding to drive pilings for stability, rebuild the basin, add circulation/filtration, and switch to Tidal Basin water with ozone treatment.
  • It was expensive (~$34–35M), took around 2 years, and algae bloomed almost immediately after reopening (a known risk with the new water source). Some viewed the "green/sustainable" elements as experimental or overly ambitious rather than a straightforward fix. It didn't fully eliminate leaks or algae.

2026 Renovation​

  • More targeted/focused: It addressed ongoing leaks and the basin surface with a blue coating/sealant, plus filtration upgrades (nanobubblers). The color choice was aesthetic ("American flag blue" for the 250th anniversary), but it also aimed at waterproofing and visual improvement. Costs escalated from ~$1.5M estimates to ~$14M+.
  • The blue paint and quick timeline drew "vanity project" complaints, especially with the rapid algae/peeling issues. However, it built on the 2012 infrastructure rather than ignoring problems.
Bottom line: The 2012 effort tackled deeper structural neglect accumulated over decades, which the 2026 project assumed was mostly handled. The latter is more of a refresh with a visible stylistic choice.

Both faced post-work algae challenges, highlighting that the pool's shallow, open design makes perfect clarity difficult regardless of any administration's political affiliation.

Anchovies' partisan reframing ignores the fact that both projects involved significant taxpayer funds with imperfect results.

And he didn't post any critical threads in 2012, AFAIK.

Poor Anchovies.
 
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