What is the primary function of a levee in flood control?

The primary function of a levee in flood control is to prevent overflow. Levees are embankments or barriers constructed along the banks of rivers or other bodies of water, designed specifically to hold back water and protect adjacent land from flooding. By maintaining a higher barrier than the water level, levees help to confine the flow of water within designated channels, thus safeguarding agricultural land, residential areas, and infrastructure from flood damage during periods of heavy rainfall or snowmelt.

This function is crucial in flood management strategies, as it allows communities to sustain their ecosystems and economies while reducing the risk of water-related disasters. Other options, such as storing rainwater and increasing irrigation, serve different purposes in water management, while redirecting rivers involves altering natural water flow rather than preventing overflow directly.