When it comes to the ongoing algae struggles of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, history repeats itself. Just as former President Barack Obama had to drain the pool after his $34 million repairs resulted in an algae bloom, the National Park Service confirmed in a federal court filing Wednesday they plan to drain the pool after July 4 celebrations to repair damage to the “American Flag Blue” lining.  The confirmation comes after President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social Tuesday that they would drain the pool “either immediately before or after the Fourth of July” after, he claims, someone took a “very sharp knife” and “purposefully and criminally” slashed the lining of the pool. Trump said Tuesday six people had been arrested for alleged vandalism of the pool, but he has yet to provide evidence for how they did so.  The claims of vandalism come as photos over the weekend showed the pool’s “American Flag Blue” lining had started peeling off after crews had dumped jugs of hydrogen peroxide into the pool to treat an algae bloom that began days after the completion of Trump’s $14 million repairs. The filing is part of an ongoing legal dispute between the nonprofit group The Cultural Landscape Foundation and the Department of Interior. The nonprofit’s lawsuit claims that the project did not abide by Congressionally-mandated consultation processes for renovating historic landmarks. NPS Deputy Director for Operations Frank Lands said in a Wednesday filing that Park Police on June 9 responded to a report of damage to the pool, including “a caulk over the foam sealant that was cut with a sharp knife or razor and destruction of delaminating surface material.” Additionally, he said 70 fence post tops had been thrown into the pool.  “The National Park Service plans to begin draining the Reflecting Pool following the Independence Day celebration to conduct repairs, including assessing and repairing any damage to the lining,” Lands said in the filing.  The filing does not mention the algae growth in the pool, which started earlier this month. The algae came after weeks of renovations to the pool that Trump initially said would cost $1.5 to $2 million, but wound up totaling over $14 million, according to contract records.The post The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool Is Being Drained—Again first appeared on Washingtonian. ...read more read less