Park Service to drain Reflecting Pool after July Fourth for repairs

The National Park Service plans to begin draining the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool after the July Fourth celebration to conduct repairs, including assessing and repairing any damage to the lining, the agency’s deputy director for operations said in a court filing Wednesday.

The filing states that about 70 fence post tops were thrown into the pool and that a caulk over the foam sealant was cut with a sharp knife or razor. Officials said U.S. Park Police responded on June 9 to a report of a cut in the caulk.

Background on the project The pool underwent a two-year renovation completed in 2012. Earlier this year officials expanded the scope of work and ordered the bottom painted a shade of blue resembling the field of the American flag, with the project expedited ahead of the country’s 250th anniversary.

Signs of trouble appeared shortly after the pool was refilled earlier this month. Algae became visible within a day, followed by clumps that prompted workers to vacuum the water, install an ozone nanobubbler filtration system, and add hydrogen peroxide.

Last week blue material at the bottom began peeling. Officials have filed 18 police reports related to vandalism and reported seven arrests, an Interior Department spokesperson said.

Legal dispute A nonprofit sued the administration last month over the decision to paint the pool blue, arguing that the project bypassed required federal consultation and public input procedures. Lawyers for the nonprofit said recent developments reinforce the need for those steps.

Administration lawyers countered Wednesday that the problems with the pool have nothing to do with the legality of the agency decision being challenged. " — NPS Deputy Director for Operations Frank Lands, court filing Internal government documents reviewed by one news outlet showed two cuts in sections of foam between the pool’s expansion joints, each 171 feet long, though the documents did not allege how the cuts occurred.