community in California
Honey bee forage in Bombay Beach, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 16% of sites in California. Spring, summer and fall all rank about the same against other California sites. Expect a dearth from late Apr to late Jun.
When is the honey flow in Bombay Beach?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Feb 1 to Mar 31, peaking early Feb (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Dearth: Apr 16 to Jun 30
- Season ends: Dec 31
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Bombay Beach, from what grows within flight range (about 3.7 miles) and when it blooms here. Dates are the model's estimate for a typical year; the spring index for this spot falls on Feb 11.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, summer-flowering shrubs, garden flowers; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, dandelion, clovers: white, alsike and red; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers, rabbitbrush, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster); dark amber
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, summer-flowering shrubs; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Alfalfa: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.7 mi E, blooms early Apr – late May (grown 2 of the last 5 years)
From USDA's crop maps for 2021–2025; fields rotate, so a crop counts by how often it was grown. Listing a field says nothing about its owner.
The land and water around Bombay Beach
Mostly: Open water; Barren; North American Warm Desert Pavement.
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.07 mi N; pond, lake or river 0.24 mi SE.
How Bombay Beach ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 3rd | 9th | 2nd | 2nd |
| California | 16th | 12th | 13th | 10th |
| Sonoran Basin and Range | 53rd | 38th | 57th | 6th |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
The national forage map around Bombay Beach: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Salton City 14 mi · Niland 15 mi · North Shore 15 mi · Salton Sea Beach 16 mi · Desert Shores 18 mi · Calipatria 19 mi
All towns in California · National map · How the scoring works
An estimate from public maps (USDA crop maps 2021–2025 averaged, LANDFIRE vegetation), not a survey of the ground. Maps can't see garden plantings, understory density, other beekeepers' hives, or this year's weather. The point is the Census Bureau's published center of Bombay Beach (33.3556, -115.7269); a yard a mile or two away can differ, so check your own spot. The FEMA flood map was not checked for this page. Benchmark 2026.5, built 2026-10-19. How this works · All sources.