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LetMyPeopleVote

(184,139 posts)
35. MS NOW-How Trump's reconstructed Reflecting Pool created a 'perfect' storm for algae
Sun Jun 28, 2026, 09:03 PM
15 hrs ago

For one thing, an ecologist explained, the president’s color choice “absorbs more light, more heat, and extra heat is a benefit for algae growth.”

How Trump’s reconstructed Reflecting Pool created a ‘perfect’ storm for algae
For one thing, an ecologist explained, the president’s color choice “absorbs more light, more heat, and extra heat is a benefit for algae growth.” www.ms.now/news/trump-r...

US News Now - World’s leading Liberal Voice (@democracyblue.bsky.social) 2026-06-28T14:01:31.440Z

https://www.ms.now/news/trump-reflecting-pool-algae-renovation

Dr. Peter May, an algae expert and ecologist at the University of Maryland, specifically pointed to three mistakes made by the administration during the overhaul: the color, the water and the season.

Trump inherited a Reflecting Pool last renovated by President Barack Obama in 2012, during which a light concrete material was used to line the base of the fountain. This allowed the fountain to reflect light and heat away from the water, May said. But once Trump directed the National Park Service to paint the pool a dark “American flag blue” — the highlight of his Washington makeover to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary — the temperature of the water rose.

“It absorbs more light, more heat, and extra heat is a benefit for algae growth,” May said, adding that this algal bloom will likely not be the last one we see this summer.

That is due in part to the water the park service filled the pool with, the same that comes from any sink in the city. May said the city’s tap water is high in both phosphorus and nitrogen, nutrients that are perfectly safe for people to drink, but also fuel algae growth. Add to that the summer heat — the renovation is set to be finished for America’s semiquincentennial on the Fourth of July — and the monument has quickly become an ideal incubator for the fast-growing flora. .....

The pool, like the White House ballroom, has become a visual symbol of the Trump administration’s wrecking ball to democratic norms. May says with current conditions and the blue hue, we could potentially expect a new bloom again.

“Well algae is great, it grows very fast and so a bloom happens overnight and or during the day because of photosynthesis,
” May said of the organism’s unpredictable growth.

Only one thing is certain, he said: “The conditions are perfect for it right now. It could happen, and it could happen very quickly.”

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the paint is actually a spray on closed cell foam, like a liner rampartd Saturday #1
The "vandal or vandals" would have needed some kind of scuba gear to go underwater to make that cut .. Botany Saturday #2
i am sure that there was at least one guy who knew every thing about that pool rampartd Saturday #4
The pool is only 18-30 inches deep. Why would they need scuba gear? 33taw Saturday #14
If there was a slit, popsdenver Saturday #21
Or caused by a motorcade of dozens of Range Rovers. vanlassie Saturday #29
I think popsdenver Yesterday #33
Or, maybe just driving multiple very heavy vehicles over it while it was curing LiberalArkie Yesterday #31
Saw them spreading some thick blue gunk. Igel Saturday #3
So lonely bird Saturday #17
Or been compromised by a number of 10-ton vehicles driving down the center of the pool...n/t the nelm Saturday #7
I believe the vehicles drove on bare concrete Texas_Blue_Dem 14 hrs ago #37
No, it is not lonely bird Saturday #11
Weve seen the "blades" quakerboy Saturday #18
It couldn't be cut the way they claim obamanut2012 Saturday #22
So they've Dave Id Saturday #5
Antifa snuck underneath his motorcade to avoid detection as he drove through the pool IronLionZion Saturday #6
I'm 1,000% SURE that's what happened! lastlib Saturday #8
Nah. Thats gonna be quality work. quakerboy Saturday #19
We need to make him personally pay for all this mdbl Saturday #9
That clip was definately worth the watch! Thank you and Rhiannon for bringing it here! Maeve Saturday #10
A bubbling pool can't reflect images Farmer-Rick Saturday #12
So much disinformation. Scruffy1 Saturday #13
Hydrogen peroxide Whyisthisstillclose Saturday #15
Stuff. Botany Saturday #16
I bought my wife a small pick up. BidenRocks Saturday #20
Sounds like he should have hired DU as the contractor. Wonder Why Saturday #23
And now the stupid fuckhead is blaming everyone else and getting away with it. Initech Saturday #24
How the Reflecting Pool Turned Green: Missing 'Bubblers' and a Rush Job (New York Times Gift Article) LetMyPeopleVote Saturday #25
The reporting is really confusing. Let me see if I can get it right. Bluetus Saturday #27
Trump did nor want anything to distract from his birthday party event LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #30
That's why the story is bullshit. Bluetus Yesterday #32
The NYT is clear that the nanobubblers were removed/shutdown for the UFC/birthday event LetMyPeopleVote Yesterday #34
He needs an excuse for his next big beautiful no-bid contract struggle4progress Saturday #26
Delamination of incompatible paint on top of a poorly prepared substrate. Aussie105 Saturday #28
MS NOW-How Trump's reconstructed Reflecting Pool created a 'perfect' storm for algae LetMyPeopleVote 15 hrs ago #35
It has been a long time since I took a class about algae but to me who has done hands on ecological work Botany 14 hrs ago #36
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»So Trump had the anti alg...»Reply #35