The Columbia River Pastoral Letter Project was initiated to provide an international, watershed-wide, ongoing conversation and call to action. The goals of the project included the following:

• to focus attention on the social, political, cultural, economic and environmental realities related to the Columbia River 
• to call all people in the watershed region to care for creation 
• to help resolve regional conflicts with respect, compassion and good will 
• to promote sustainable ecological relationships linked with community economic benefits

An international Steering Committee representing Canadian and U.S. watershed dioceses and Catholic colleges and universities conducted a series of listening sessions held in Washington, Oregon and British Columbia in which representatives of diverse constituencies -- industry, agriculture, fishing, education and native peoples -- presented their perspectives on regional needs.

Listening sessions were held in:

• University of Portland, Portland, Oregon: November 1997
• Seattle University, Seattle, Washington: February 1998
• Hanford, Washington: March 1998
• Toppenish, Washington: May 1998
• Umatilla, Oregon: July 1998
• Castlegar, British Columbia: September 1998
• Spokane, Washington: February 1999
• Hermiston, Oregon: March 1999 

• St. Mary Parish, Spokane, Washington: August 1999
• St. Paul Parish, Yakima, Washington: August 1999
• Columbia River Maritime Museum, Astoria, Oregon: October 1999
• St. Pius X and Holy Trinity Churches, Cedar Mill & Beaverton, Oregon: October 1999
• Carroll College, Helena, Montana: October 1999
• Holy Family Church, Clarkston, Washington: October 1999
• Salish-Kootenai College, Pablo, Montana: November 1999

(Many other parishes and community organizations sponsored sessions on their own between June and December, 1999.)

The project Steering Committee consisted of the following: