Trump's "Truth" vs. Reality: Biology rules in the Reflecting Pool

What I know as an Aquatic Ecologist

I hold several degrees in Science, ranging from Biology to Medical Laboratory Science, to a Post-Graduate Master’s Degree in Aquatic Ecology. The last one is the relevant one in this instance.

The above photo shows what appears to be a neglectful state of one of our most highly visible pieces of the D.C. National Park Service.

At face value.

But we cannot let ourselves be fooled by random images posted on the internet any longer. The rise of AI and the deliberate staging of “good vs. bad” with ill intent by people who want the gullible to just accept their word without question begs us to do our due diligence.

This is a prime example of that scenario.

As an Aquatic Ecologist, I can tell you with absolute certainty; two words that, coming from a scientist, cannot be taken lightly, that weather conditions and water sources will cause exactly what you see in the 2012 picture in a matter of a few weeks to a couple of months.

I looked at the weather conditions for the summer of 2012 in Washington D.C. That summer brought consistently high temperatures and more importantly, high humidity. Algal growth and massive algal blooms like the ones seen in the 2012 picture thrive in those conditions. The Reflecting Pool is a stagnant, closed water system and has no ability to dilute the presence of algae. The same exact thing happens in every natural pond under the same conditions.

The water reservoir that fed the Reflecting Pool also contained larger than normal algal growth that summer, compounding the issues seen here. When this happened, right after a 2-year renovation, the National Park Service acted to contain and fix the problem.

Within weeks of the pool's reopening in 2012, it had to be drained and cleaned at a cost of $100,000 due to algae in the pool. The algae growth was so extensive it almost completely covered the surface of the pool.^[8] Using an ozone disinfectant system installed during the renovation,^[9] the National Park Service said it would double the amount of algae-killing ozone in the pool to control future outbreaks.^[8]

Trump’s most recent renovations: painting the floor of the Reflecting Pool in comparison, will cost taxpayers between $1-2 million dollars. This is an aesthetic change, not a “fix” for anything. It will merely tint the color of the water. It’s being carried out by people who build recreational pools, not the National Park Service. Blue paint will not stop the growth of algae should the same conditions occur again.

Any flowing water system, whether it is a small stream or a large river, can wash away excessive algal growth before it becomes this bad…to a point. The driving force behind Red/Green Tides found in oceanic salt water and freshwater river systems that lead to fish kills are the same exact conditions. Any ecological system, regardless of where it is or what it consists of, will naturally compensate any insult to its integrity until it no longer is able to.

That is what happened to the Reflecting Pool following the summer of 2012.

Nothing more. Nothing less.

There is no fault here other than weather conditions beyond the control of anyone. There was no neglect on anyone’s part.

They want you to simply believe whatever they put in front of your eyes and accept it as “Truth”.

The “Reality” is a very different matter.

Folks, this is 8th grade level science. It’s not hard. You do not need an advanced degree to understand the process.

If you ever had a Goldfish as a kid, you know you had to clean the bowl now and then to wipe away the residue of algae that inevitably builds up on the inside of the bowl.

This is the same process.

They are cherry picking pictures and things that have normal, natural, valid explanations, hoping that people are too stupid to look up the information or connect the dots. And sadly, yes, I am fully aware that this last sentence applies to way too many individuals among the American people.

Always verify information.