It’s long overdue that we ban lead weights.

When Archer Mayo began diving in the Columbia River, he spent most of his time around Cascade Locks and the Spring Creek National Fish Hatchery near Underwood, Washington, where he lives.

He said he’s pulled up some 700 pounds of lead sinkers out of the Spring Creek hatchery area alone, often 12 pounds at a time in a free dive.

“I’ve seen how much lead there is,” he said. “It gives me a reason to dive.”

He unscientifically guesses that “there’s easily 10,000 pounds of lead (in the area). I’m not exaggerating. I could probably get more.”

LINK (via Hermiston Herald)