Abandoned and derelict vessels (ADVs) are an escalating challenge on Oregon’s rivers, with state officials and county sheriffs patrolling to identify, tag, and eventually remove boats that threaten navigation, leak pollutants, or become hazardous eyesores. The Oregon State Marine Board and Department of State Lands coordinate with local law enforcement to sticker suspected ADVs and notify owners before removal. Many boats are acquired cheaply by financially struggling individuals, sometimes serving as makeshift homes for the unhoused. Limited affordable housing, a convoluted used-boat market, and high disposal costs fuel the cycle. State law holds owners liable for removal, but faded hull numbers and missing paperwork often leave the burden—and the expense—on public agencies. Recent funding from settlements and federal grants has helped, but as old boats are cleared, new ones take their place. The issue highlights the intersection of environmental stewardship, social policy, and the ongoing struggle to keep Oregon’s waterways safe and clean.