July/August 1984 RAIN Page 33 NW Publications Wild Oregon, quarterly, $25/year regular, $20/year low-income from: Oregon Natural Resources Council 1161 Lincoln Street Eugene, OR 97401 Want to know what the current status of the Middle Santiam is? What about the endangered northern spotted owl? Just what is happening with the Columbia Gorge? Will it be preserved in its present state? And what is the process through which its fate will be determined? Open up any issue of Wild Oregon, and you'll find questions like these answered thoughtfully and thoroughly. The Oregon Natural Resources Council publishes Wild Oregon to monitor the status of Oregon's natural resources. Although the focus is public lands and the legislation involved in protecting those lands, its scope is quite broad. Recent issues of the journal have featured articles on Oregon's threatened wildlife, reports on the controversy surrounding federal grazing fees, a profile of several different proposed desert wilderness areas, and even a report on German forest management. This journal is an important resource for those who want to be in touch with the way Oregon's lands, waters, and natural resources are being managed. —CB Environmental Outlook, monthly, free from: Institute for Environmental Studies Engineering Annex, FM-12 University of Washington Seattle, WA 98195 This four-page newsletter, produced by the Institute for Environmental Studies (lES) at the University of Washington, abounds with good information. Recent issues have featured articles on environmental mediation, genetic conservation, the EMP effect from detonating nuclear weapons, and a report on current research using honeybees and pollen to trace the distribution and presence of heavy metals in the environment. The newsletter also reviews notable publications (including government reports and academic papers) on environmental matters, and runs a newsy column called "lES People" relating current lectures and research efforts of UW faculty. Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Environmental Outlook, though, is the extensive and detailed calendar announcing a wide range of Northwest events—seminars, conferences, classes, lectures, hearings—that have an environmental focus. Although it is somewhat academically top-heavy, Environmental Outlook is an excellent no-frills, information- oriented publication, giving Northwest environmentalists in all arenas (government, academia, and public- interest groups) vital access to current trends, issues, and research in the environmental field. —CB NW Briefs Weatherize Yourself!—It's not too early to think about weatherizing your home. Cash rebates are available through September 1984 to help Oregonians who heat only with oil, propane, or wood to weatherize their homes. Households that meet certain low-to-moderate-income guidelines may be eligible for a rebate of 50% of the cost of the work. To help finance the other half of the weatherization work, low-interest loans (4Vi % and 6V2%) are also available to eligible applicants. Call the Portland Energy Saving Center at 248-4636 or ODOE toll free at 800/221-8035. Map Information—The Oregon State Library, an affiliate of the National Cartographic Information Center (NCIC), recently joined forces with the University of Oregon Map Library to provide broader access to cartographic information and coordination of map-ordering assistance to Oregonians. As an NCIC ''satellite" affiliate, the U of O map library will make its map specialists and materials available for interlibrary-loan backup and reference assistance to the state library. Questions? Call Craig Smith, Oregon State Library, 378-4277. Fungophiles Unite—Mush Rumor has it that there are a good number of mycologi- cally minded folks in the Northwest. If you're one of them but have yet to connect, with the Northwest's mushrooming network, contact the Oregon Mycological Society (6548 SE 30th Avenue, Portland 97202) or the Puget Sound Mycological Society (2559'NE 96th Street, Seattle 98115) to find out about a mycological society in your area. (There are nearly 20 such groups in Oregon and Washington alone!) With membership in the Oregon Mycological Society ($6/year), you'll receive a quarterly Mush Rumor newsletter announcing weekend mushroom forays and monthly lectures (everything from mushroom art to commercial cultivation of 'shrooms). A recent issue contained a report from the Toxicology Committee on local poisonings, recipes, an announcement of an 18-day mushroom study tour of Japan, and a mushroom poster offer, among other things. Recycling—Two fact sheets are now available, through the Department of Environmental Quality, on Oregon's Recycling Opportunity Act (SB405) and hazardous-waste management in Oregon. For copies, call 1/800/452-4011 or write DEQ, PO Box 1760, Portland, OR 97207. Neighborhoods—The 1983 Neighborhood Information Profile is hot off the press. The 360-page manual contains profiles of Portland's 75 neighborhoods, including demographic characteristics, data from city bureaus, a citizen survey, and visual inspections of housing and street ccmdi- tions. Cost is $10 for the complete manual and $5 for information broken down by district (inner SE, outer SE, inner NE, outer NE, downtown, and SW). Call Services Research Division at 248-4697 in Portland. Railways—The Oregon Association of Railway Passengers and the Washington Association of Railway^assengers are actively working to promote the use of Amtrak and improve its service. Both groups have chapters state-wide. Members communicate with officials at all levels of government and with transportation companies and agencies. OreARP, PO Box 2772, Portland, OR 97208; Wash-ARP, PO Box 7381, Bellevue, WA 98008. An Environmental TV Channel in Portland?—In 1981, when the City of Portland signed a contract for a franchise with Cablesystems Pacific, some provisions called for a local TV channel that would focus exclusively on environmental issues. The original plan included in the contract would have put eight hours of environmental programming on the air every day. At present, however. Environment Northwest on Channel 29 offers only printed (rather than spoken) messages on environmental issues. To help make the original plan a reality, send a letter expressing your interest to the Cable Regulatory Commission, 519 Portland Building, 1120 SW 5th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204, or to the City Council, 1220 SW 5th Avenue, Portland, OR 97204.
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