Michelle Banonis

Regional Water Authority, Manager of Strategic Affairs

Michelle Banonis is the Manager of Strategic Affairs for the Regional Water Authority in the Sacramento metropolitan region.  She has 23 years of experience in the areas of water, engineering, ecosystems, and law.  Previously, she was the Assistant Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Water Resources and the Bay-Delta Area Manager with the Bureau of Reclamation.  Early in her career, she worked for Pierce County in Tacoma, Washington in the areas of regulatory compliance and habitat restoration.  She holds a B.S. in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Technological University, a J.D. from Humphreys College, and is an attorney.