Southeast Indiana Landslides—State Park Maps Maps (of Brookville Lake/Whitewater Memorial State Park, Clark State Forest, Clifty Falls State Park, and Versailles State Park) and geodatabase

Abstract

Southeast Indiana’s landslide inventory has been historically limited, with few detailed records beyond those associated with transportation infrastructure. This study addressed the lack of documentation for landslides on naturally graded slopes and landforms across five USGS 100,000-scale quadrangles: Louisville, Madison, Greensburg, Cincinnati, and Falmouth. Using slope derivatives from Quality Level 2 (QL2) light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data and orthoimagery, landslides were identified and mapped as polygon features at a 1:4,000 scale.

Field verification at Brookville Lake, Clark State Forest, Clifty Falls State Park, and Versailles State Park, along with roadway corridors near Lawrenceburg, confirmed the presence of slope movement and validated the remote mapping. Features such as scarps, flanks, and hummocky topography were photographed, described, and archived. Landslide characteristics, including estimated dimensions and impacts on infrastructure, were recorded and integrated into the Indiana Geological and Water Survey (IGWS) landslide inventory.

The resulting data set and park maps improve landslide hazard awareness in southeast Indiana. This work supports emergency preparedness, transportation and park management, and long-term hazard mitigation across vulnerable natural and developed landscapes. This project was funded through the USGS Landslide Hazards Program under the Landslide Risk Reduction Grant G24AP00426.