Maybe you can incorporate something like this...

I like these ideas.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dry creek bed ideas

This one is lovely too...

{{gwi:187297}}

My pond is still a work in progress. I'm filling in with annuals now, but every year I add more perennials. These are last year's pics. I'm going to put a bridge between my drycreek and pond. I'll add a path of rocks and plants right up to the bridge so that it looks like a creek going under the bridge... I hope :-).

Here is a link that might be useful: My Pond and Drycreek