Posted at: 11/11/2009 3:08 PM

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High Tech Flood Forecasting in Red River Valley

FARGO, N.D. (AP) - High-tech mapping technology used to help Fargo-Moorhead residents fight flooding now is available to the entire Red River Valley.

Officials say the high resolution elevation data should be accurate to within inches instead of within feet as under earlier measurements. The information can be found on a Web site.

Sen. Byron Dorgan says the technology is important to help fight chronic flooding in the area. He said it should help with plans for permanent flood protection

Last year's Red River flood led to a massive sandbagging effort and forced some people to leave their homes. Fargo held off two record crests.

Dorgan said a bill signed by President Barack Obama last week provides $750,000 for the so-called Red River Valley Mapping Initiative.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)