### Instruction:
What is a levee?

### Response:
A levee is a built barrier that is used to hold back water.  Often times during construction levees are built to cheapen construction costs so individual home foundations do not have to be raised in areas that are prone to flooding.  Raising individual home foundations to prevent flooding is very costly.  Levees help to prevent flooding and also help capture water that could cause flooding during heavy rain, torrential storms, and hurricanes.