Dams & Levees

From the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Headquarters:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers uses both dams and levees to manage flood risk, but they are very different structures. Levees help create higher boundaries than a river’s or other water’s natural banks and can protect a community from flood waters, up to a point. Dams are built to hold back massive amounts of water, releasing only as much as operators intend. Over the years our dams and levees have helped save lives and reduced property damage by reducing flood risks.