Far too often public policy is based on the concept of "out of sight, out of mind."  The mounds of trash and garbage along the banks of the Willamette River are "invisible" to most persons.  The homeless who camp along those riverbanks are "invisible" to most persons.  They gain "attention" only when they "go to town" and panhandle or congregate on streetcorners or in parks.  The police seldom "roust" them from their riverbank camps because, it seems, it's far easier and less intrusive for them to be there in that "out of sight, out of mind" location.  The mess they make? Hey, it's "out of sight and out of mind", too.  

The trashing at Lake Shasta only because an issue when it hit the internet.  Without that exposure, no corrective measures would have been taken. 

 John Brown and others, on their own, have been cleaning up the Willamette River banks for year.......addressing the "results".  He suggests the City might address the "causes".  Makes sense to me............