NATCHEZ — With Mississippi River levels on the rise, casino and city officials said they’re watching the water levels at Natchez Under-the-Hill but aren’t acting just yet.

The river reached what is considered flood stage at 48 feet on the gauge earlier this week, and is expected to stand at 48.7 feet this morning, continuing to rise to a sustained crest of 50 feet starting Saturday.

In past flood events, the Isle of Capri Casino has been moved from the Silver Street side of Under-the-Hill to the D.A. Biglane Street side at 49.5 feet, a move dictated in a plan the city adopted in 2001.

But Natchez City Engineer David Gardner said that because the National Weather Service’s flood forecast doesn’t predict that the waters will rise beyond 50 feet, the city is waiting to enact the plan.

“We have a contingency plan for when the river gets to certain stages, but it is not going to go into effect because the forecast is not really threatening,” Gardner said.

“We are going to watch it really close, and once it starts getting up to where it is approaching the 50s and the forecast gets higher, that is when we will implement our contingency.”

“I don’t foresee having to close Silver Street or moving the boat.”

Isle of Capri Spokeswoman Jill Alexander said the casino is preparing to address whatever flood-related needs arise.

“We are closely monitoring river conditions and will take the appropriate actions when necessary,” she said.

“We are prepared and ready to do whatever we need to do should river conditions change.”

Sandbags have been prepared on Silver Street, and in the past rising water levels have begun encroaching on the street at approximately 50 feet.

Magnolia Bluffs Casino, located at the base of Roth Hill Road, was not open during the flood of 2011, which reached a record 61.9 feet. Magnolia Bluffs President Kevin Preston said the casino has a plan in place for a flood event.

But Gardner said the Roth Hill property is at 55 feet, which would be a major flood.

“Fifty-five feet is a major elevation that we hope we don’t get to, but if the river does reach (55 feet), then it will start lapping close to the sidewalk at Roth Hill,” he said. “It won’t be in the building, but it will be something that we have to deal with.”

The actual Magnolia Bluffs Casino is built above the floodplain, Gardner said.