community in Oregon
Honey bee forage in River Road, Oregon
Estimated forage here is better than about 77% of sites in Oregon. Against other Oregon sites it stands out most in spring (81st percentile) and lowest in fall (32nd). Biggest nearby bee crops: clover and wildflowers (nearest 2.9 mi NW, grown 2 of the last 5 years); peas (nearest 3.3 mi NE, grown 1 of the last 5 years); corn (nearest 3.3 mi NE, grown 2 of the last 5 years).
When is the honey flow in River Road?
- First forage: Feb 16 (dandelion, maples, clovers: white, alsike and red)
- Main flow: Mar 1 to Jun 15, peaking early Apr (clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion)
- Season ends: Sep 30
Forage available to a colony through the year at the center of River Road, 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 Apr 7.
What the honey is made of
- Spring honey (March to June): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, maples, garden flowers; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Summer honey (July and August): garden flowers, clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
- Fall honey (September to November): garden flowers
- Whole season (March to November): clovers: white, alsike and red, dandelion, garden flowers, maples; extra light amber, mixed: part of it sets quickly, part stays liquid
Nectar-source estimate (plants weighted by how much bees favor them), not a pollen analysis. Full honey estimate.
Bee crops within flight range
- Clover and wildflowers: about 13 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.4 mi W, blooms early Apr – early Aug (grown 1 of the last 5 years)
- Peas: about 7 acres in a typical year, nearest 3.3 mi NE, blooms early Apr – late May (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 River Road
Mostly: Developed, medium intensity; Developed, low intensity (houses and yards); Developed, high intensity (paved).
Nearest mapped water: mapped stream or canal (may be dry in late summer) 0.31 mi SW; pond, lake or river 0.36 mi W.
Things to watch
- Heavily developed. About 97% of the land within a mile is developed. Less room for forage, and more neighbors near the hives.
How River Road ranks
| Against random land in | Overall | Spring | Summer | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental US | 80th | 97th | 58th | 44th |
| Oregon | 77th | 81st | 43rd | 32nd |
| Willamette Valley | 20th | 29th | 10th | 94th |
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 River Road: darker is more forage. Tap anywhere to check that exact spot.
Nearby
Eugene 2 mi · Santa Clara 2 mi · Coburg 5 mi · Springfield 8 mi · Junction City 9 mi · Cheshire 11 mi
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 River Road (44.0836, -123.1321); 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.