LEVEE

A natural or man-made earthen obstruction along the edge of a stream, lake, or river. Also, a long, low embankment usually built to restrain the flow of water out of a river bank and protect land from flooding. If built of concrete or masonry, the structure is usually referred to as a flood wall. The term Dike is commonly used to describe embankments that block an area on a reservoir rim that are lower than the top of the main dam.