R. Currey,
As Lawrance Welk would say "Wonerful, Wonerful, Wonerful and Welcome.
I like your ideas.
My thoughts would be to dig a hole and build up a dam,leaving the center about water level. Then line the hole and extend the liner over the dam, down the back of the dam. Then use your "meandering stream" idea on top of liner starting at the dam and going down the back of the dam.
Idealy this would give you a hole of water and a spillway that wouldn't wash and be appealing.
