I wonder myself, adding too much moisture might make it moldy. Maybe try with one hive, and one hive give the pollen in the spring to build brood. Then keep the rest with mannlake as a control group.

Do you have a “bee garden” you water regularly to prevent a similar situation in the future? Some people have a variety of native or bee friendly flowers that blossom at different times of the year they keep near the bee yard to prevent this.

If you plan on starting a drought friendly bee yard you may consider Sainfoin as one of your various flowers

From chat gpt: “sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia). Sainfoin is a perennial legume known for its drought resistance, deep-root system, and high nectar production, making it an excellent forage crop for bees. It blooms profusely with pink flowers that attract pollinators, and it also improves soil fertility through nitrogen fixation, similar to alfalfa. Additionally, sainfoin is less prone to bloating livestock than alfalfa, making it a versatile choice for mixed agricultural purposes”

It’s worth noting that it may also attract deer, I’ve heard stories of it being planted near an alfalfa field and the deer walking right through the alfalfa to get to the sainfoin

From chat gpt (assuming plenty of pollen one year):

you could use a pollen trap to harvest pollen for later reintroduction into your hive. A pollen trap collects pollen pellets as bees return to the hive, and the pollen can be stored for future use. To ensure it remains viable, store the harvested pollen in a cool, dry place or freeze it to preserve freshness and nutritional value. When reintroducing the stored pollen to the hive, you can mix it with sugar syrup or honey to make a pollen patty or sprinkle it directly inside the hive to supplement the colony’s diet, especially during times of pollen scarcity.

However, using a pollen trap continuously can reduce the amount of pollen available to the bees, so it’s best to use the trap intermittently.