Purpose of the Berms

You may have noticed that in many places, the ground slopes down on either side of the trail. These sloping hills are earthen berms, which form the walls that separate each wetland cell from the others.The berms serve as a barrier to keep water contained within the cells. In this way, water is only allowed to flow from one wetland to the next via control structures, which can control how much water is flowing and when it flows. Trees and other large vegetation are not allowed to grow on the berms, because the roots can cause damage and a way for water to escape.