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In the fall of 2009, California was entering the worst drought in modern history. The water districts were imposing rationing throughout the San Francisco bay area, and the Central Valley farmers were facing catastrophic cuts in their water allowances. During that time, I was photographing Alameda Creek, which is part of the San Francisco bay watershed. That fall, the creek was almost completely dried up except for small isolated pools.

A short three months later in February 2010, the newspapers were heralding a miraculous reversal of the drought. Storm after storm after storm swept in from the Pacific Ocean and drenched the bay area along with the Sierras. The reservoirs were filled, and Alameda creek was back flowing.

Silver Rain explores Alameda Creek during those three months of transformational rain.