The mission of the Delta Stewardship Council, through a seven-member board, is to achieve the state's co-equal goals of providing a more reliable water supply for California and protecting, restoring and enhancing the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta (Delta) ecosystem. The co-equal goals are to be achieved in a manner that protects and enhances the unique cultural, recreational, natural resource, and agricultural values of the Delta as an evolving place. A legally enforceable Delta Plan will further the co-equal goals and guide state and local agency activities related to the Delta. The Council will develop and implement a strategy to appropriately engage participation by federal and state agencies with responsibilities in the Delta and develop a scientific program to manage the Delta through the Delta Science Program and the Delta Independent Science Board.

The Delta Stewardship Council is the successor to the California Bay-Delta Authority and CALFED Bay-Delta Program.