Water spreading bunds: The main characteristic of water spreading bunds is that, as their name implies, they are intended to spread water, and not to impound it. They are usually used to spread floodwater, which either has been diverted from a watercourse or has been spilled onto the floodplain naturally. The bunds, which are usually made of earth, slow down the flow of floodwater and spread it over the land to be cultivated, thus allowing it to infiltrate over an increased area. Water spreading bunds may be part of a spate irrigation scheme – or, where natural flooding occurs, they may constitute a technology in themselves.

(Mekdaschi & Liniger 2013)