embankments

• this is an embankment

  
• embankments

  raised walls built along the river banks to increase the height, can be made from compacted earth or concrete
• benefit of embankments

  river can hold more water in the channel, so it will flood less
• benefit of embankments

  cheap compared to other hard engineering methods
• benefit of embankments

  provides walking routes for the community and habitats for animals
• cost of embankments

  river will still flood if it goes above the height of it or if it breaks it can create worse flooding
• cost of embankments

  there are high maintenance costs to ensure they work when needed
• cost of embankments

  people have a false sense of security so may not have other plans in place