Willamette River Pollution Film, circa 1940

The film was probably made by William Joy Smith, of Portland Oregon. Smith was State Manager of the National Life Insurance Company and President of the Oregon Wildlife Federation. It was made before establishment of the state Sanitary Authority and fostered much of the original interest in water quality in Oregon. The film may also have been known at the time of its creation by the title "Pollution in the Willamette".

In 1940 Smith was a member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, State Manager of the National Life Insurance Company, and President of the Oregon Wildlife Federation.Smith produced his film as part of a push from citizens groups to convince the City of Portland to commence its proposed sewage disposal project. Portland city leaders placed an initiative to fund sewerage infrastructure on the same November 1938 ballot that included the proposal to create the Oregon State Sanitary Authority. However, nearly two years after both of these initiatives passed by a two-to-one margin, Portland city officials still had not taken any substantive steps to develop the necessary plans. Smith contributed to the efforts of state Izaak Walton League members and others increasingly frustrated with this lack of progress.

Members of the Sanitary Authority viewed Smith’s film at its December 13, 1940, meeting, as Authority members themselves continued to pressure Portland officials. The City of Portland finally commenced construction of a comprehensive interceptor system and sewage treatment plant in 1947, but Willamette River pollution from other sources continued to increase. At their November 4, 1949, meeting, the Sanitary Authority allocated $900 to re-print the film and provide a soundtrack.