The military force, which controlled the lakes and rivers, controlled much of North America.

控制湖泊和河流的军队控制了北美的大部分地区。

Like higher and stronger levees, floodgates, pumping stations, river controls, and dredging up new artificial land to replace their natural wetland defenses.

比如更高更坚固的堤坝、防洪闸、抽水站、河流控制设施，以及疏浚新的人工土地来取代天然湿地防御。