VIDALIA — The high water crest for the Mississippi River has been revised a half-foot higher; the river is now expected to crest at 54 feet May 25.

That additional rise wasn’t caused by new rains to the north, but rather because the rains that fell above rivers that flow into the Mississippi River have contributed a higher volume of water than was initially anticipated, National Weather Service Meteorologist Latrice Maxie said.

“We haven’t had rain in the last couple of days, but there are a lot of rivers that flow into the Mississippi,” Maxie said.

A half foot may not seem like much, but it’s at approximately 54 feet that water began to back through the drainage system onto the Vidalia Riverfront during the 2008 high water event.

This year, there’s also new marina on the south end of the riverfront that has lowered the river walk slightly.

“We will probably have to build a dirt buffer there, put Visquine over it and then put sandbags on top of that,” Vidalia Mayor Hyram Copeland said.

If water begins to back through the drainage system, the city will likely build a ring of sandbags around the drains, which will effectively serve as wells to hold the water until it can be pumped, Copeland said.

And if water ends up on Front Street anyway, the mayor said the city will build a temporary road that will run along the levee from the south end of the riverfront to allow access to Promise Hospital, which was not yet open during the 2008 high water event.

“These plans are all for worst-case scenario,” Copeland said.

“You plan for the worst and hope for the best.”

In Natchez, city officials will meet today with Isle of Capri Casino management to discuss the flood fight plan for Natchez Under-the-Hill.

It is more likely than not that the casino boat will have to be moved to the D.A. Biglane Street side of Natchez Under-the-Hill, Natchez City Engineer David Gardner said.

“We were hoping that if (the river) stayed at 53 feet we could ride it out, but moving it up to 54 feet is creating a problem for us because we don’t think we can keep the water from coming into Silver Street at that location,” Gardner said.

If the boat moves, Silver Street will have to close, though Gardner said D.A. Biglane Street would remain open for casino traffic.

One problem the city will have to face, though, is making sure water doesn’t infiltrate the sewer system Under-the-Hill if it does get onto Silver Street.

“If we can keep water from infiltrating the sewer system, we should be OK,” Gardner said.

The ultimate deciding factor will be safety, however.

“We try to make a good decision based on safety for the pedestrians and motorists, and that is paramount above all operations,” Gardner said. “We have to make sure we aren’t going to create a hazard down there.”

The river is expected to stand at 53.1 feet this morning.