INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Division of Water, has completed its October and November 2025 update for the state’s Best Available Flood Data (BAFD). This crucial update incorporates new studies and corrected floodplain mapping for several counties, providing local governments and property owners with more current information for planning and regulatory purposes.
The BAFD layer integrates official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) with additional studies and data reviewed and approved by the DNR. While the BAFD is generally considered more recent than official FEMA data and is vital for construction permitting and general planning, it is important to note that it cannot be used for official flood insurance determinations, which still rely on the formal FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL).
Counties and Streams with Updated Data
The recent two-month update focused on specific stream segments across nine Indiana counties:
| County | Updated Stream / Waterway |
| Elkhart | Whetten Ditch |
| Huntington | Little Majenica Creek |
| Johnson | UNT Youngs Creek (UNT = Unnamed Tributary) |
| Monroe | UNT Beanblossom Creek |
| Monroe | UNT Indian Creek |
| St. Joseph | UNT Potato Creek |
| St. Joseph | Potato Creek |
| Vermillion | UNT Feather Creek |
| Wabash | UNT Pony Creek |
These updates often result from new detailed studies, local model reviews, or the incorporation of new topographic data, ensuring that the flood risk information available to the public and local officials is as precise as possible.
Accessing the New Flood Data
Local communities and professionals involved in development, engineering, and emergency management are encouraged to utilize this newly released information. The updated geospatial data is immediately available through the DNR’s online services: ArcGIS REST services.
Property owners can typically view this “Best Available” information, alongside official FEMA maps, on the Indiana Floodplain Information Portal (INFIP), which the DNR uses to visualize and disseminate flood risk data. The use of this updated data is a requirement for local communities when federal or FEMA data is not available or is outdated, as it helps administer the state’s floodplain regulations and the Indiana Flood Control Act.
