River rising, but expected to crest below flood stage|[05/22/08]

Published 12:00 am Thursday, May 22, 2008

The Mississippi River is once again on the rise in Vicksburg due to heavy rains over middle America in recent weeks, but it is not expected to surpass flood stage before cresting next week.

Meanwhile, flood cleanup continues in Vicksburg with Waste Management beginning to pick up curbside debris in flood-affected areas.

“Areas in Southwestern Missouri, southern Illinois and Indiana received anywhere from 3 to 7 inches in the past 14 days, and that’s why we’re seeing these rises,” said Marty Pope, National Weather Service Senior Service Hydrologist in Jackson.

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Today the river stage at Vicksburg is 41.9 feet, a rise of 0.1 foot in a 24-hour period. It is forecast to crest Wednesday at 42.5 feet, a half-foot below flood stage here. The river had been steadily falling since mid-April, sinking to 41.5 feet on May 18 before beginning the current rise.

Cairo, Ill., began rising last week, and is cresting below flood stage today. Natchez is above flood stage, and the river is forecast to crest at the city 2 feet above flood stage on May 29.

Wednesday, the river stage was erroneously reported as 42.8 feet by the Vicksburg District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, when in fact it was 41.8 feet. Robert Simrall, chief of water control, said the gauges at the city are functioning properly, and the error was clerical.

Flood stage at Vicksburg was passed on March 26, and the river topped out at 50.9 feet on April 19. It was the highest river stage recorded at the city since 1973, when the river crested at 51.6 feet.

Waste Management was cleared Wednesday by the city of Vicksburg to begin picking up the piles of debris in such neighborhoods as Kings and Ford subdivision. Dumpsters will be placed at the north and south end of the streets in some neighborhoods as well.

Barry Graham, Vicksburg communications manager, said the company is picking up the debris with additional charge to the city’s current payment.