community in California
Honey bee forage in Thermalito, California
Estimated forage here is better than about 87% of sites in California. Against other California sites it stands out most in spring (84th percentile) and lowest in summer (73rd). Biggest nearby bee crops: almonds (nearest 1.4 mi S); citrus (nearest 3.4 mi SE); sunflower (nearest 3.7 mi W, grown 1 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in Thermalito?
- First forage: Jan 1 (dandelion, roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Main flow: Feb 1 to May 15, peaking early Mar (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Fall flow: Jun 1 to Jun 30 (roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard))
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of Thermalito, 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 Mar 3.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, likely to set over some months
- Summer honey (July and August): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), garden flowers, fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), dandelion; light amber, likely to set over some months
- Fall honey (September to November): fall wildflowers (goldenrod, aster), garden flowers; amber
- Whole season (March to November): roadside weeds (clover, dandelion, sweet clover, mustard), clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers; 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
- Almonds: about 32 acres in a typical year, nearest 1.4 mi S, blooms early Feb – late Mar
- Citrus: about 1 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi SE, blooms late Mar – early May
- Sunflower: about 2 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.7 mi W, blooms late Apr – late Jun (grown 1 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 Thermalito
Mostly: California Ruderal Grassland and Meadow; Open water; Developed, open space (parks, large lots, lawns).
Nearest mapped water: creek, wetland or wet meadow 0.08 mi E; mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.13 mi E.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 56% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How Thermalito ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 93rd | 98th | 46th | 48th |
| California | 87th | 84th | 73rd | 83rd |
| Central California Valley | 52nd | 54th | 80th | 91st |
Percentiles among 3,000 random land points in each region, scored the same way: land in general, not beekeepers' apiaries.
About 42% of the land here is scored with national averages for its vegetation type rather than measured plant cover, so the wild-plant part of this estimate is rougher than the crop part.
The national forage map around Thermalito: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Oroville 2 mi · South Oroville 4 mi · Oroville East 6 mi · Palermo 7 mi · Kelly Ridge 7 mi · Richvale 8 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 Thermalito (39.5089, -121.6011); 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.