When the waters of Washington, D.C.’s Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool turned green, algae became the focus of public concern. But as our Executive Director, David Helvarg, explains in his latest Los Angeles Times opinion piece, algae are far more than a nuisance – they are essential organisms that help sustain life on Earth.

From producing oxygen and supporting marine food webs to offering potential solutions in food, medicine, and climate innovation, algae play a vital role in healthy ecosystems. The challenge is not algae themselves, but the growing environmental pressures – including warming waters, nutrient pollution, and ecosystem disruption – that can trigger harmful algal blooms.

The Reflecting Pool’s transformation offers a reminder that understanding algae is key to understanding the changing conditions affecting our planet’s waters.

Read more on the full LA Times article available here.