"以堤防堵挡" can be translated into English as "to block or dam up with dikes/levees" or more naturally as "to use dikes/levees for blocking and containment".
Here are some example sentences for context:
They used dikes to block and contain the floodwaters. （他们用堤防堵挡洪水。）
The construction of levees aims to prevent flooding by blocking the water flow. （修建堤防的目的是通过堵挡水流来防止洪水。）