Definitions for "Check dam"
Keywords:  swale, dam, gully, earthen, velocity
Check dams, also called check steps, are usually made of wood or large rocks, and are used on badly eroded trails to stop erosion. They typically look like a step, and a series of them will look much like a staircase. Water will still run down the trail, but check dams will catch sediment and help restore the trail to its former glory.
A small dam used to restrict flow and lessen erosion in a drainageway.
a log or earthen structure used in swales to reduce water velocities, promote sediment deposition and enhance infiltration.
an obstruction built across a water course