Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Conversation
The Conversation
Eric Palkovacs, Professor of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz

When your local reflecting pool or pond turns green with algae, don’t reach for chemicals – nature has better solutions

A National Park Service employee uses a vacuum to clean the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on June 20, 2026. AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein

When the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned green with algae just days after a US$15 million renovation, the U.S. government scrambled for chemicals and expensive technical solutions to fix the iconic landmark.

Trying to kill algae with chemicals is a common response when community ponds or other water features go green. But as a scientist who studies freshwater ecology, I can tell you there are better solutions that cost far less, last longer and carry less risk of harm to pets and wildlife.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.