INDIANA — The Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Division of Water has announced the completion of the February 2026 update to the Best Available Floodplain Layer (BAFL). This update provides critical, high-resolution flood risk data for property owners, developers, and local officials across 11 Indiana counties.
The BAFL is a living data layer that combines official FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) with the most recent state-level hydraulic studies. It often covers smaller streams that have not yet been mapped by federal agencies, offering a more precise look at local flood risks.
Counties with Updated Data
The February 2026 update includes new modeling for the following streams:
- Allen: UNT Saint Mary’s River
- Carroll: Wabash and Erie Canal
- Cass: UNT Wabash River
- Clark: Lancassange Creek
- Jasper: Dexter Ditch
- Newton: Beaver Lake Ditch
- Orange: French Lick Creek
- Switzerland: UNT Goose Creek
- Wabash: UNT Silver Creek
- Wayne: Slow Run
- Wells: Johnson Ditch
Regulatory Use vs. Insurance Requirements
The Indiana DNR emphasizes that while this data is considered the “Best Available” for state and local permitting, it serves a different purpose than federal maps:
- For Construction & Permitting: Under Indiana law, local floodplain administrators must use the Best Available data when reviewing permit applications for new structures or construction activities near a floodplain. This ensures that new development is built safely above the 100-year flood elevation.
- For Flood Insurance: Only official FEMA maps (the National Flood Hazard Layer) can be used to determine federal flood insurance requirements. If a property is shown in a flood zone on the BAFL but not on a FEMA map, insurance is not federally mandated, though it is still strongly recommended by experts.
How to Access the Data
Residents and professionals can view these updates through two primary digital channels:
- Indiana Floodplain Information Portal (INFIP): The state’s primary interactive map, where users can search by address and generate a Floodplain Analysis and Regulatory Assessment (FARA) report.
- ArcGIS REST Services: For GIS professionals and engineers, the updated layer is available directly via the DNR’s geospatial server.
Property owners can use the INFIP tool to see if their specific building site has been impacted by these new studies, which can assist in planning future renovations or new construction.
