Two more dead ducks were discovered Monday near the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, compounding a series of maintenance failures that have plagued the recently renovated national landmark. The Washington Post reported that the birds were found in a pond at Constitution Gardens, roughly 200 feet from the pool, where a separate duckling carcass had been seen floating earlier.
City Wildlife, a local animal rescue organization, confirmed that a staffer collected the carcasses on Sunday and transported them to the group’s facility. The Hill has reached out for further comment. The discovery comes just days after photos of a dead duckling in the pool surfaced online, sparking public concern over the site’s condition following a multi-million dollar renovation.
The Trump administration’s renovation project, which included repainting the pool’s base a shade of blue to match the American flag, has been dogged by problems. The paint began peeling off within days, and the 2,028-foot pool turned green from an algal bloom. To address the algae, the National Park Service (NPS) began using hydrogen peroxide last week, and is also deploying a nanobubble ozone technology system that officials say was validated by researchers at NOAA, Ohio State University, and the University of Florida.
Costs for the federal contract with Atlantic Industrial Coatings have ballooned from $13.1 million a month ago to $14.7 million, according to federal data. President Trump has blamed vandalism for the issues, and on Monday the administration announced that five individuals had been arrested in connection with vandalism at the site, with five others receiving federal citations. The arrests follow Trump’s social media outbursts blaming “thugs” for the pool’s problems.
The dead ducks add a grim chapter to what has become a symbol of the administration’s haphazard governance. Critics have pointed to the botched reflecting pool renovation as emblematic of broader mismanagement, while the administration continues to insist the problems are the result of deliberate sabotage.
The NPS has not commented on whether the duck deaths are linked to the hydrogen peroxide or ozone treatments, but environmental groups are urging an investigation. The pool, which reopened to the public just weeks ago after months of repairs, now faces renewed scrutiny over its safety and maintenance.
