Prepared in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation

Flood-Inundation Maps for the East Fork White River near 

Bedford, Indiana

Pamphlet to accompany

Scientific Investigations Map 3274

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
Cover: Panoramic photo and bridge shots of East Fork White River, Indiana. (Photo by Jeff Salas and Chad Menke)
Flood-Inundation Maps for the East Fork 

White River near Bedford, Indiana

By Kathleen K. Fowler

Prepared in cooperation with the 

Indiana Department of Transportation 

Pamphlet to accompany

Scientific Investigations Map 3274

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Department of the Interior

SALLY JEWELL, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey

Suzette M. Kimball, Acting Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2014

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Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to 

reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation:

Fowler, K.K., 2014, Flood-inundation maps for the East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana: U.S. Geological 

Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3274, 20 sheets, 8-p. pamphlet, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3274.

ISSN 2329-132X (online)
iii

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the many local, State, and Federal agencies that have cooperated in 

the funding for the operation and maintenance of the gage used for this study, especially the 

Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Special thanks are given to Indiana Department of Transportation for their cooperation in this study and to the National Weather Service 

for their continued support to the USGS flood-inundation mapping initiative. 

Contents

Abstract...........................................................................................................................................................1

Introduction ....................................................................................................................................................1

Purpose and Scope ..............................................................................................................................2

Study Area Description........................................................................................................................2

Previous Studies ..................................................................................................................................2

Constructing Water-Surface Profiles.........................................................................................................2

Hydrologic and Steady-Flow Data .....................................................................................................2

Topographic/Bathymetric Data ..........................................................................................................3

Energy-Loss Factors.............................................................................................................................4

Model Calibration and Performance .................................................................................................4

Development of Water-Surface Profiles...........................................................................................4

Inundation Mapping ......................................................................................................................................5

East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana, Flood-Inundation Maps on the Internet ...........5

Disclaimer for Flood-Inundation Maps .............................................................................................5

Uncertainties and Limitations Regarding Use of Flood-Inundation Maps ..................................7

Summary..........................................................................................................................................................7

References Cited............................................................................................................................................7
iv

Sheets

[Sheets and additional materials are available online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3274/.]

1–20. Maps showing flood-inundation maps for the East Fork White River near Bedford, 

Indiana, at the U.S. Geological Survey streamgage 03371500 for a corresponding 

stage of—

1. 20.00 feet and an elevation of 493.20 feet

2. 21.00 feet and an elevation of 494.20 feet

3. 22.00 feet and an elevation of 495.20 feet

4. 23.00 feet and an elevation of 496.20 feet

5. 24.00 feet and an elevation of 497.20 feet

6. 25.00 feet and an elevation of 498.20 feet

7. 26.00 feet and an elevation of 499.20 feet

8. 27.00 feet and an elevation of 500.20 feet

9. 28.00 feet and an elevation of 501.20 feet

10. 29.00 feet and an elevation of 502.20 feet

11. 30.00 feet and an elevation of 503.20 feet

12. 31.00 feet and an elevation of 504.20 feet

13. 32.00 feet and an elevation of 505.20 feet

14. 33.00 feet and an elevation of 506.20 feet

15. 34.00 feet and an elevation of 507.20 feet

16. 35.00 feet and an elevation of 508.20 feet

17. 36.00 feet and an elevation of 509.20 feet

18. 37.00 feet and an elevation of 510.20 feet

19. 38.00 feet and an elevation of 511.20 feet

20. 39.00 feet and an elevation of 512.20 feet

Figures

1. Map showing location of study reach for the East Fork White River, location of 

USGS streamgage 03371500, and National Weather Service forecast sites 

BEDI3 and BFRI3 ...........................................................................................................................3
v

Tables

1. 1.0-percent annual exceedance probability peak-discharge estimate and drainage 

area for USGS streamgage 03371500, East Fork White River near Bedford, 

Indiana............................................................................................................................................2

2. USGS streamgage and miscellaneous site information for study basin, East Fork 

White River near Bedford, Indiana. ..........................................................................................4

3. Comparison of water-surface elevations at USGS streamgage 03371500, East Fork 

White River near Bedford, Indiana, with water-surface elevations output from 

the hydraulic model......................................................................................................................5

4. Comparison of hydraulic-model output and surveyed high-water-mark elevations 

from the flood of June 2008 for the East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana ............6

5. Stages, water-surface elevations, and corresponding discharge estimates for 

USGS streamgage 03371500, East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana, for 

simulated water-surface profiles...............................................................................................6

Conversion Factors

Inch/Pound to SI

Multiply By To obtain

Length

foot (ft) 0.3048 meter (m)

mile (mi) 1.609 kilometer (km)

Area

square mile (mi2

) 2.590 square kilometer (km2)

Flow rate

cubic foot per second (ft3

/s) 0.02832 cubic meter per second (m3/s)

Hydraulic gradient

foot per mile (ft/mi) 0.1894 meter per kilometer (m/km)

Vertical coordinate information is referenced to either (1) stage, the height above an arbitrary 

datum established at a streamgage, or (2) elevation, the height above North American Vertical 

Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). 

Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 

(NAD 83).

Flood-Inundation Maps for the East Fork White River 

near Bedford, Indiana

By Kathleen K. Fowler 

Abstract

Digital flood-inundation maps for an 11.8-mile reach of 

the East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana (Ind.) were 

created by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation. The 

inundation maps, which can be accessed through the USGS 

Flood Inundation Mapping Science Web site at http://water.

usgs.gov/osw/flood_inundation/, depict estimates of the 

areal extent and depth of flooding corresponding to selected 

water levels (stages) at USGS streamgage 03371500, East 

Fork White River near Bedford, Ind. Current conditions for 

estimating near-real-time areas of inundation using USGS 

streamgage information may be obtained on the Internet at 

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/in/nwis/uv?site_no=03371500. 

In addition, information has been provided to the National 

Weather Service (NWS) for incorporation into their Advanced 

Hydrologic Prediction Service (AHPS) flood warning system 

(http://water.weather.gov/ahps/). The NWS forecasts flood 

hydrographs at many places that are often colocated with 

USGS streamgages, including the East Fork White River near 

Bedford, Ind. NWS-forecasted peak-stage information may be 

used in conjunction with the maps developed in this study to 

show predicted areas of flood inundation. 

For this study, flood profiles were computed for the 

East Fork White River reach by means of a one-dimensional 

step-backwater model. The hydraulic model was calibrated 

by using the most current stage-discharge relations at USGS 

streamgage 03371500, East Fork White River near Bedford, 

Ind., and documented high-water marks from the flood of 

June 2008. The calibrated hydraulic model was then used to 

determine 20 water-surface profiles for flood stages at 1-foot 

intervals referenced to the streamgage datum and ranging from 

bankfull to the highest stage of the current stage-discharge 

rating curve. The simulated water-surface profiles were then 

combined with a geographic information system (GIS) digital 

elevation model (DEM, derived from Light Detection and 

Ranging (LiDAR) data having a 0.593-foot vertical accuracy) 

in order to delineate the area flooded at each water level.

The availability of these maps, along with Internet information regarding current stage from the USGS streamgage 

near Bedford, Ind., and forecasted stream stages from the 

NWS, provides emergency management personnel and 

residents with information that is critical for flood response 

activities such as evacuations and road closures, as well as for 

postflood recovery efforts.

Introduction 

The city of Bedford, Ind. is a community with an estimated population of 13,413 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). 

Bedford has experienced severe flooding numerous times, 

most recently in 2008. Areas most affected by the flooding 

are along Leatherwood Creek and the East Fork White River, 

which flows south of the town. Flood plains along the river are 

moderately developed and contain a mix of residential, commercial, and agricultural areas.

Prior to this study, Bedford officials relied on several 

information sources to make decisions on how to best alert the 

public and mitigate flood damages. One source of information is the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) 

Flood Insurance Study (FIS) for Lawrence County completed 

in 2004 (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2010). 

A second source is USGS streamgage 03371500, East Fork 

White River near Bedford, Ind., from which current and historical water levels (stage) can be obtained. A third source is 

the NWS’s forecast of peak stage through the AHPS Web site.

Two NWS sites are within the study reach. One, BEDI3 East 

Fork White River at Rivervale, is colocated with the USGS 

gage 03371500 at the Buddha Road bridge. The other, NWS 

site BFRI3 East Fork White River at the Bedford Boat Club, 

is located approximately 10.7 miles downstream of USGS 

streamgage 03371500. Although USGS stream stage and NWS 

flood forecast information is particularly useful for residents 

in the immediate vicinity of a streamgage, it is of limited 

use to residents farther upstream or downstream because the 

water-surface elevation is not constant along the entire stream 

channel. Also, FEMA and State emergency management mitigation teams and property owners typically lack information 

related to water elevation at locations other than near USGS 

streamgages or NWS flood-forecast points. 
2 Flood-Inundation Maps for the East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana

Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this report is to describe the development 

of a series of estimated flood-inundation maps for the East 

Fork White River near Bedford, Ind. The maps and other flood 

information are available on the USGS Flood Inundation Mapping Science Web site and the NWS Advanced Hydrologic 

Prediction Service Web site. Internet users can select estimated 

inundation maps that correspond to (1) flood stages at USGS 

streamgage 03371500 and (2) the NWS forecasted peak stage.

The scope of the study was limited to the East Fork White 

River reach extending 1.1 mi upstream of USGS streamgage 

03371500 at the Buddha Road bridge and 10.7 mi downstream 

of the streamgage (fig. 1). Tasks specific to construction of 

the maps were (1) compilation of flow data from streamgage 

03371500, (2) collection of topographic data and geometric 

data (for structures/bridges) throughout the study reach, (3) 

estimation of energy-loss factors (roughness coefficients) in 

the stream channel and flood plain, (4) computation of watersurface profiles by use of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ 

HEC–RAS computer program (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

2010), (5) production of estimated flood-inundation maps at 

various stream stages by use of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ HEC–GeoRas computer program (U.S. Army Corps of 

Engineers, 2009) and a GIS, and (6) development of a Web 

interface that links to USGS real-time streamgage information and NWS forecasted peak stage to facilitate the display of 

user-selected flood-inundation maps on the Internet.

Methods used are generally cited from previously published reports. If techniques varied significantly from previously documented methods due to local hydrologic conditions 

or available data, they are described in detail in this report. 

Twenty maps were produced for water levels referenced to 

the stage at USGS streamgage 03371500, East Fork White 

River near Bedford, Ind., and ranging from approximately 

bankfull to the highest stage on the current stage-discharge 

rating curve. 

Study Area Description

The East Fork White River near the city of Bedford is in 

south central Indiana in the Mitchell Plateau physiographic 

section of the Southern Hills and Lowlands Region (Gray, 

2000). The drainage area is 3,858 mi2 at the upstream end of 

the study reach, 3,861 mi2 at USGS streamgage 03371500, 

East Fork White River near Bedford, and 4,055 mi2, at the 

downstream extent of the study reach. The headwaters originate in Henry County and the stream flows generally southward before turning a more westerly direction about 18 mi 

southeast of Bedford. There are no significant tributaries to 

the East Fork White River as it flows through the study reach. 

The basin terrain is generally a rolling clay-covered upland of 

low relief and large areas of karst, entrenched by major valleys 

(Gray, 2000). The study reach is approximately 11.8 mi long 

and has an average top-of-bank channel width of about 320 ft 

and an average channel slope of 0.0002 (1.2 ft/mi). Most of 

the land contiguous to the study reach is either agricultural 

or natural areas with much smaller portions having residential development. The population of Bedford has declined in 

recent years from 13,858 in 2000 to 13,413 in 2010 (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). The main channel within the study reach 

has two major road crossings and one railroad crossing that lie 

within the channel or the adjacent flood plain. 

Previous Studies 

The current FIS for Lawrence County (Federal Emergency Management Agency, 2010) was completed by Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd., in 2004. The study used 

approximate methods to determine flood hazards for 39 of the 

county’s streams. The East Fork White River was one of the 

streams studied by approximate methods, and the resultant 

Special Flood Hazards Area map was used for comparison 

to the maps created in this study. An estimate of the peak 

discharge for the 1.0-percent annual exceedance probability 

flood at the Bedford gage on the East Fork White River was 

obtained from USGS StreamStats for Indiana (U.S. Geological 

Survey, 2012) and is listed in table 1.

Table 1. 1.0-percent annual exceedance probability peakdischarge estimate and drainage area for USGS streamgage 

03371500, East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana.

[mi2, square miles; ft3/s, cubic feet per second]

Discharge estimate 

(ft3

/s)

Drainage area 

(mi2)

108,000* 3,861

*

 From USGS StreamStats for Indiana (U.S. Geological Survey, 2012).

Constructing Water-Surface Profiles

The water-surface profiles used to produce the 20 

flood-inundation maps in this study were simulated by using 

HEC–RAS, version 4.1.0 (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 

2010). HEC–RAS is a one-dimensional step-backwater model 

for simulation of water-surface profiles with gradually varied, 

steady-state or unsteady-state flow computation options. The 

HEC–RAS analysis for this study was done using the steadystate flow computation option.

Hydrologic and Steady-Flow Data

The study area hydrologic network consists of one 

streamgage (fig. 1; table 2), which has been in operation since 

1939. Water level (stage) is measured continuously at this 

site, and continuous records of streamflow are computed. All 

water-surface elevations are referenced to the North American 
Constructing Water-Surface Profiles 3

EXPLANATION

Limit of study area USGS streamgage and number

Flow arrow—Indicates direction

of water flow

37 State route marker

03371500

East

White

Fork

River

Bedford

37

37

03371500

BUDDHA ROAD

CSX RAILROAD

Leatherwood

BFRI3 Creek

NWS AHPS site

INDIANA

study area

BFRI3

86°30' 86°28' 86°26' 86°24'

38°50'

38°48'

38°46'

MILES

0 1 2

BFRI3

Bedford

KILOMETERS

0 0.5 1 2

Projection: Transverse MercatorHorizontal coordinate information is referenced to 

the North American Datum of 1983 Orthophotography from Indiana Spatial Data 

Portal, National Agriculture Imagery Program 2010, available at http://gis.iu.edu/

forecast sites BEDI3 and BFRI3.

Figure 1. Location of study reach for the East Fork White River, location of USGS streamgage 03371500, and National Weather Service 

Vertical Datum of 1988 (NAVD 88). The gage is equipped 

with a satellite radio transmitter that allows data to be transmitted routinely on the Internet within an hour of collection. High-water marks were documented after the flood that 

occurred in 2008 and also were used for model calibration.

Steady-flow data consisted of flow regime, boundary 

conditions (normal depth), and peak-discharge information. 

The steady-flow data for the model were obtained from field 

measurements of streamflow at USGS streamgage 03371500, 

East Fork White River near Bedford, Ind. All computations 

were based on discharge values with known stages from actual 

streamflow measurements or stage-discharge relations. 

Topographic/Bathymetric Data

Forty-two channel cross sections were developed from

USGS field surveys that were conducted in August 2012; these 

cross sections provide detailed channel-elevation data below 

the water surface and were collected by using hydroacoustic 

instrumentation to measure depth and Differential Global 

Positioning System (DGPS) instrumentation to determine 

horizontal position. A total of 37 synthetic cross sections were 

generated by use of the DEM. In-channel data for all synthetic 

cross sections were estimated by use of a bathymetry mesh 

tool using interpolation from cross-sectional data surveyed in 

the field (Merwade and others, 2008).
4 Flood-Inundation Maps for the East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana

Table 2. USGS streamgage and miscellaneous site information for study basin, East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana. 

[mi2, square miles; ft, feet; NAD 83, North American Datum of 1983; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988]

Streamgage name Streamgage 

number

Drainage 

area

(mi2

)

Latitude

(NAD 83)

Longitude

(NAD 83)

Period of 

record

Datum 

of gage 

(ft NAVD 88)

Maximum 

recorded flood 

elevation 

(ft NAVD 88) 

and date

East Fork White River near 

Bedford, Indiana

03371500 3,861 38 ̊46’13” 86 ̊ 24’35” May 1939 

to present

473.20 511.04 on January 9, 

20051

1

 Corresponds to a stage of 37.84 ft.

LiDAR data were used to obtain digital elevation data 

for the portions of the cross sections that were above the 

water surface at the time of the surveys. The LiDAR data for 

the East Fork White River near Bedford (Lawrence County 

LiDAR) were collected for the Indiana Statewide Imagery and 

LiDAR Program and processed by Woolpert, Inc., of Dayton, 

Ohio, in 2011 (Woolpert, Inc., 2011). The original LiDAR data 

have horizontal resolution of 4.9 ft (1.5 meters). The vertical accuracy is 0.593 ft (18.074 centimeters) at a 95-percent 

confidence level. By these criteria, the LiDAR data support 

production of 2-ft contours (Dewberry, 2012). Although a finer 

resolution of the DEM was possible given the accuracy of the 

LiDAR data, the DEM data were resampled to a grid-cell size 

of 10 ft by 10 ft to decrease the GIS processing time. This 

resulted in a vertical accuracy of plus or minus 1 ft.

Various manmade drainage structures (bridges, culverts, 

roadway embankments, levees, and dams) in and along the 

East Fork White River affect or have the potential to affect 

water-surface elevations during floods along the stream. To 

properly account for these features in the model, structural 

dimensions for three bridges were measured and surveyed 

in the field concurrently with the stream-channel surveys. 

A detailed description of the methods used to acquire and 

process the topographic and bathymetric data can be found in 

Bales and others (2007). 

Energy-Loss Factors

Field observations and high-resolution aerial photographs obtained from the Indiana Spatial Data Portal, National 

Agricultural Imagery Program 2010 (http://gis.iu.edu/) were 

used to select initial channel and flood-plain friction coefficients. These friction coefficients, commonly called Manning’s 

roughness coefficients or Manning’s n values, account for 

energy (friction) loss in the model (Arcement and Schneider, 

1989). The final Manning’s n values ranged from 0.035 to 

0.037 for the main channel and 0.09 to 0.13 for the overbank 

areas modeled in this analysis. 

Model Calibration and Performance

The hydraulic model was calibrated to the most current stage-discharge relation (USGS rating no. 25, July 25, 

2008) at USGS streamgage 03371500, East Fork White River 

near Bedford, Ind., and high-water marks from the flood of 

2008. The estimated peak discharge for the 2008 flood was 

68,700 ft3

/s at an estimated stage of about 34.66 ft at the gage. 

Model calibration was accomplished by adjusting Manning’s n

values and, in some cases, changing the channel cross section or slope until the results of the hydraulic computations 

closely agreed with the known flood discharge and stage 

values. Differences between measured and simulated water 

levels for measured or rated flows at USGS gaging station 

03371500 were less than or equal to 0.17 ft (table 3). Differences between measured and simulated water levels for 

models calibrated to high-water marks in the study reach from 

the flood of 2008 were less than or equal to 0.80 ft (table 4). 

An additional comparison was made to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ graph of flood profiles for the East 

Fork White River (Basin 21) to verify the beginning slope 

of the model (Suzie Delay, Indiana Department of Natural 

Resources, written commun., 2012). The results demonstrate 

that the model is capable of simulating accurate water levels 

over a wide range of flows in the basin. Details on techniques 

used in model development and calibration can be found in 

Bales and others (2007).

Development of Water-Surface Profiles

Profiles were developed for a total of 20 stages at 1-ft 

intervals between 20 ft and 39 ft as referenced to USGS 

streamgage 03371500, East Fork White River near Bedford, 

Ind. Discharges corresponding to the various stages were 

obtained from the most current stage-discharge relation (rating 

no. 25, July 25, 2008) at the East Fork White River gage. All 

bridge surfaces were displayed as inundated regardless of the 

actual water-surface elevation in relation to the lowest structural chord of the bridge or the bridge deck. 
Inundation Mapping 5

Table 3. Comparison of water-surface elevations at USGS 

streamgage 03371500, East Fork White River near Bedford, 

Indiana, with water-surface elevations output from the hydraulic 

model.

[ft, feet; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988]

Stage

(ft)

Water-surface 

elevation from stagedischarge rating 

(ft, NAVD 88)

Modeled watersurface elevation 

(ft, NAVD 88)

Elevation 

difference 

(ft)

20.00 493.20 493.15 -0.05

21.00 494.20 494.04 -0.16

22.00 495.20 495.07 -0.13

23.00 496.20 496.16 -0.04

24.00 497.20 497.30 0.10

25.00 498.20 498.22 0.02

26.00 499.20 499.24 0.04

27.00 500.20 500.14 -0.06

28.00 501.20 501.14 -0.06

29.00 502.20 502.03 -0.17

30.00 503.20 503.09 -0.11

31.00 504.20 504.15 -0.05

32.00 505.20 505.32 0.12

33.00 506.20 506.34 0.14

34.00 507.20 507.08 -0.12

35.00 508.20 508.22 0.02

36.00 509.20 509.14 -0.06

37.00 510.20 510.35 0.15

38.00 511.20 511.14 -0.06

39.00 512.20 512.08 -0.12

Discharges for all profiles (table 5) were selected with the 

assumption that within the 11.8-mi study reach there are no 

significant tributary or groundwater inflows. The discharges 

were estimated to be uniform and steady throughout the study 

reach. 

Inundation Mapping

Flood-inundation maps were created for a reach of the 

East Fork White River near Bedford, Ind. The maps were 

created in a GIS by combining the water-surface profiles and 

DEM data. The DEM data for Bedford (Lawrence County 

LiDAR) were collected for the Indiana Statewide Imagery and 

LiDAR Program. Estimated flood-inundation boundaries for 

each simulated profile were developed with HEC–GeoRAS 

software (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2009). HEC–GeoRAS is a set of procedures, tools, and utilities for processing 

geospatial data in ArcGIS using a graphical user interface. The 

interface allows the preparation of geometric data for import 

into HEC–RAS and processes simulation results exported 

from HEC–RAS (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 2010). 

USGS personnel then modified the HEC–GeoRAS results to 

ensure a hydraulically reasonable transition of the boundary 

between modeled cross sections relative to the contour data for 

the land surface (Whitehead and Ostheimer, 2009). 

The resulting inundation maps have a vertical accuracy of 

about plus or minus 1.0 ft. The maps show estimated floodinundated areas overlaid on high-resolution, georeferenced 

aerial photographs of the study area for each of the water-surface profiles that were generated by the hydraulic model.

East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana, 

Flood-Inundation Maps on the Internet

The flood-inundation maps and current study documentation are available online at the USGS Publications Warehouse 

(http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3274). Also, a Flood Inundation 

Mapping Science Web site has been established to provide 

a portal for USGS flood-inundation study information to 

the public at http://water.usgs.gov/osw/flood_inundation/.

That Web portal has a link (http://wim.usgs.gov/FIMI/

FloodInundationMapper.html) to interactive online map libraries that can be downloaded in several commonly used electronic file formats. At the map library site, each stream reach 

displayed contains further links to NWISWeb graphs of the 

current stage and streamflow at USGS streamgage 03371500 

to which the inundation maps are referenced. A link also is 

provided to the NWS AHPS site (http://water.weather.gov/

ahps/) so that the user can obtain applicable information on 

forecasted peak stage. The estimated flood-inundation maps 

are displayed in sufficient detail to note the extent of flooding with respect to individual structures so that preparations 

for flooding and decisions for emergency response can be 

performed efficiently. All bridges are displayed as inundated 

(shaded) regardless of the flood magnitude. Buildings that are 

shaded do not reflect inundation but denote that bare earth 

surfaces in the vicinity of the buildings are inundated. When 

the water depth (as indicated in the Web mapping application 

by holding the cursor over an inundated area) adjacent to the 

building of interest exceeds that building’s height, the structure can be considered fully submerged.

Disclaimer for Flood-Inundation Maps

Inundated areas shown should not be used for navigation, 

regulatory, permitting, or other legal purposes. The USGS 

provides these maps “as-is” for a quick reference, emergency 

planning tool but assumes no legal liability or responsibility 

resulting from the use of this information.
6 Flood-Inundation Maps for the East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana

Table 4. Comparison of hydraulic-model output and surveyed high-water-mark elevations from the flood of June 2008 for the East 

Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana.

[ft, feet; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988]

Location

High-water mark 

field identification 

number1

High-water 

mark elevation

(ft, NAVD 88)

Model watersurface elevation

(ft, NAVD 88)

Elevation 

difference

(ft)

Downstream side of State 

Route 37 bridge 143.46 499.41 498.99 -0.42

Downstream side of State 

Route 37 bridge 143.48 499.11 498.99 -0.12

Upstream side of State 

Route 37 bridge 143.56 500.01 499.21 -0.80

Downstream side of Buddha 

Road bridge 153.25 507.61 507.81 0.20

Upstream side of Buddha 

Road bridge 153.29 507.81 507.92 0.11

1

Indiana Department of Natural Resources high-water marks for the flood of June 10, 2008 (location in river miles).

Table 5. Stages, water-surface elevations, and corresponding discharge estimates for USGS streamgage 03371500, East Fork White 

River near Bedford, Indiana, for simulated water-surface profiles.

[ft3/s, cubic feet per second; NAVD 88, North American Vertical Datum of 1988; sheet numbers correspond to the separate flood-inundation maps available 

online at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3274/]

Sheet number

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

 Stage, in feet above gage datum (elevation, in feet above NAVD 88) associated with the indicated discharge value

20.0 21.0 22.0 23.0 24.0 25.0 26.0 27.0 28.0 29.0 

(493.20) (494.20) (495.20) (496.20) (497.20) (498.20) (499.20) (500.20) (501.20) (502.20)

Discharge (ft3

/s)

17,070 18,420 20,040 21,810 24,200 26,850 29,850 33,030 36,420 40,000

Sheet number

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

 Stage, in feet above gage datum (elevation, in feet above NAVD 88) associated with the indicated discharge value

30.0 31.0 32.0 33.0 34.0 35.0 36.0 37.0 38.0 39.0 

(503.20) (504.20) (505.20) (506.20) (507.20) (508.20) (509.20) (510.20) (511.20) (512.20)

Discharge (ft3

/s)

44,150 48,560 53,240 58,200 64,390 71,020 78,100 85,640 93,590 102,000
References Cited 7

Uncertainties and Limitations Regarding Use of 

Flood-Inundation Maps

Although the flood-inundation maps represent the boundaries of inundated areas with a distinct line, some uncertainty 

is associated with these maps. The flood boundaries shown 

were estimated based on water stages (water-surface elevations) and streamflows at USGS streamgage at 03371500, East 

Fork White River near Bedford, Ind. Water-surface elevations along the stream reaches were estimated by steady-state 

hydraulic modeling, assuming unobstructed flow, and using 

discharges and hydrologic conditions anticipated at the USGS 

streamgage. The hydraulic model reflects the land-cover 

characteristics and any bridge, dam, levee, or other hydraulic 

structures existing as of August 2012. Unique meteorological 

factors (timing and distribution of precipitation) may cause 

actual discharges along the modeled reach to vary from those 

assumed during a flood and lead to deviations in the water-surface elevations and inundation boundaries shown. Additional 

areas may be flooded due to unanticipated conditions such as 

changes in the streambed elevation or roughness, backwater 

into tributaries along a main stem river, or backwater from 

localized debris or ice jams. The accuracy of the floodwater 

extent portrayed on these maps will vary with the accuracy of 

the DEM used to simulate the land surface. Additional uncertainties and limitations pertinent to this study are described 

elsewhere in this report.

If this series of flood-inundation maps will be used in 

conjunction with NWS river forecasts, the user should be 

aware of additional uncertainties that may be inherent or factored into NWS forecast procedures. The NWS uses forecast 

models to estimate the quantity and timing of water flowing 

through selected stream reaches in the United States. These 

forecast models (1) estimate the amount of runoff generated 

by precipitation and snowmelt, (2) simulate the movement 

of floodwater as it proceeds downstream, and (3) predict the 

flow and stage (and water-surface elevation) for the stream at 

a given location (AHPS forecast point) throughout the forecast 

period (every 6 hours and 3 to 5 days out in many locations). 

For more information on AHPS forecasts, please see http://

water.weather.gov/ahps/pcpn_and_river_forecasting.pdf. 

Summary

Estimated flood-inundation maps were developed in

cooperation with the Indiana Department of Transportation for the East Fork White River near Bedford from 1.1 mi 

upstream of USGS streamgage 03371500 at the Buddha 

Road bridge to10.7 mi downstream of the streamgage. These 

maps, in conjunction with the real-time stage data from the 

USGS streamgage at East Fork White River near Bedford 

(sta. no. 03371500) and NWS flood-stage forecasts, will help 

to guide the general public in taking individual safety precautions and will provide city officials with a tool to efficiently 

manage emergency flood operations and flood mitigation 

efforts. 

The maps were developed by using the U.S. Army Corps 

of Engineers’ HEC–RAS and HEC–GeoRAS programs to 

compute water-surface profiles and to delineate estimated 

flood-inundation areas for selected stream stages. The maps 

show estimated (shaded) flood-inundation areas overlaid on 

high-resolution, georeferenced aerial photographs of the study 

area for stream stages between 20 ft and 39 ft at the East Fork 

White River streamgage. The maps are available at a USGS 

Web portal at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3274/. Interactive use 

of the maps by using the mouse cursor to click within the 

shaded areas can give users a general indication of depth of 

water at any point.

References Cited

Arcement, G.J., and Schneider, V.R., 1989, Guide for selecting 

Manning’s roughness coefficients for natural channels and 

flood plains: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 

2339, 38 p.

Bales, J.D., Wagner, C.R., Tighe, K.C., and Terziotti, Silvia, 

2007, LiDAR-derived flood-inundation maps for realtime flood-mapping applications, Tar River Basin, North 

Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations 

Report 2007–5032, 42 p.

Dewberry 2012, National Enhanced Elevation Assessment: 

available at http://www.dewberry.com/files/pdf/NEEA_

Final%20Report_Revised%203.29.12.pdf.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), 2010, 

Flood insurance study for Lawrence County, Indiana: Washington D.C., Flood Insurance Study Number 

18093CV000A, 21 p.

Federal Geographic Data Committee, 1998, Geospatial positioning accuracy standards part 3: National standard for 

spatial data accuracy: 25 p., available at http://www.fgdc.

gov/standards/projects/FGDC-standards-projects/accuracy/

part3/chapter3.

Gray, H.H., 2000, Physiographic divisions of Indiana: Bloomington, Ind., Indiana Geological Survey Special Report 61, 

15 p., 1 pl.

Merwade, V., Cook, A., and Coonrod, J., 2008, GIS techniques 

for creating river terrain models for hydrodynamic modeling and flood inundation mapping: Environmental Modelling & Software, v. 23, no. 10–11, p. 1300–1311.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hydrologic Engineering 

Center, 2009, HEC–GeoRAS, GIS tools for support of 

HEC–RAS using ArcGIS, user’s manual [variously paged]: 

available at http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hecgeoras/downloads.aspx.
8 Flood-Inundation Maps for the East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Hydrologic Engineering 

Center, 2010, HEC–RAS river analysis system—Hhydraulic 

reference manual, version 4.1 [variously paged]: available 

at http://www.hec.usace.army.mil/software/hec-ras/

downloads.aspx.

U.S. Census Bureau, 2010, 2010 Census interactive population search IN - Bedford city: Washington, D.C., available 

at http://www.census.gov/2010census/popmap/ipmtext.

php?fl=18.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2012, StreamStats for Indiana 

streams: available at http://streamstats.usgs.gov/indiana.

html. 

Whitehead, M.T., and Ostheimer, C.J., 2009, Development 

of a flood-warning system and flood-inundation mapping 

for the Blanchard River in Findlay, Ohio: U.S. Geological 

Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2008–5234, 9 p.

Woolpert, Inc., 2011, Woolpert Order No. 71177, Indiana 

Statewide Imagery and LiDAR Program, remote sensing 

image: Dayton, Ohio, Woolpert Inc.
For additional information, write to:

Director

U.S. Geological Survey

Indiana Water Science Center

5957 Lakeside Boulevard

Indianapolis, IN 46278-1996

or visit our Web site at:

http://in.water.usgs.gov/
Fowler—Flood-Inundation Maps for the East Fork White River near Bedford, Indiana—Scientific Investigations Map 3274

ISSN 2329-132X (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3274