Major seepage along the levee of a major lake (Buckeye Lake) near me was handled with loose straw some years back. They opened up a bunch of bales in the water off the levee and the seepage pulled the straw into the cracks. It cut off most of the water loss, preventing damage to houses (located just behind the levee) and a possible catastrophic failure (months??? a year??? can't rememember) until proper repairs could be made to the levee.

"Live like you'll die tomorrow, but manage your grass like you'll live forever."
-S. M. Stirling
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