The Mississippi River edged up another one-tenth foot Tuesday and remained at 47.5 feet today — the number that may be the crest for the year.

The level is expected to begin receding Friday.

Last year, the river topped flood stage at the city on March 29, crested at 50.9 feet on April 21 and remained above flood stage until May 10. It was the highest measured stage recorded at the city in 35 years, dating to 1973 when the river topped out at 51.6 feet. An estimated 145 residents were displaced from 101 homes in 2008.

Meanwhile, flooding continues to worsen in the levee-locked expanse of forest and cropland north of Vicksburg known as the Yazoo Backwater Area. The damage to crops has surpassed what backwater area farmers endured during flooding last spring, and it could reach levels not seen in more than 25 years. Because the flood has come roughly a month later than last year, farmers will have even less time to replant and try to salvage a harvest once the fields dry out — which could be as late as July.

As of this morning, Steele Bayou was holding just under 3 feet of river water out of the backwater area, with the landside water stage rising 0.2 foot since Tuesday to 93.2 feet and the riverside stage rising 0.1 foot to 96.1 feet. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimated 404,000 acres of land — including 158,600 acres of crops — are expected to go under water by the time the gates of Steel Bayou can be reopened.

Corps chief of water control Robert Simrall said the landside water stage likely will reach 94 feet inside the backwater area by the end of this week. The last time the landside gauge topped 93 feet was 1997, and it has not reached 95 feet since 1983.

About 100 river miles north of Vicksburg, the river at Greenville is forecast to begin falling today, following a crest of 4.9 feet above flood stage of 48 feet there. The river at Natchez — about 75 river miles south of Vicksburg — is forecast to begin cresting today at 6.1 feet above flood stage of 48 feet.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com