The upper picture illustrates what I consider a difficult to maintain bank. The steep grade makes it more difficult to establish desireable grasses, promoting erosion and weeds. It is also more dangerous to operate machinery on and not as comfortable to walk around. The lower illustration still has the advantage of being steep below water level to discourage aquatic weed growth but is much easier to establish grass, mow and walk around. At very wet times, the ground above water level in the lower picture may get wet and mushy making it a little more difficult to mow but a wet steep bank is slippery both by foot and dangerous for operating equipment on.
