This is totally boring:
How can I add some variance to it that helps to distinguish a rippling lake from a raging ocean from a fast-moving river, while keeping a look that's appropriate for micro-scale landscapes?
4 Answers
The 1x1x2/3 slopes would be ideal for making waves, etc.:
and 
or the 1x2 options.
Along with some blue tiles you could make some great waves:
Obviously, if you don't want them breaking, keep the white fronts blue.
Also, if you have some Navy blue tiles you can create currents of colder water - if you've ever watched large bodies of water you'll notice they have strips of different shades running through them.
Stick to tiles on the plate rather than the 2/3s height for lakes, or for some good ripples use the Round Dish 2x2 Inverted:
answered Nov 11, 2011 at 0:18
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Put the transparent on top of the blue baseplate and use different colors of transparent... you can get some very interesting effects that way Commented Nov 26, 2011 at 23:48
Try using combos of Trans-clear and Trans-blue studs to make a nice, clear foaming water affect. Studs can be bought in extreme masses on Bricklink for like, 1¢. So there's no trouble.
- Here is David Lee using transparent bricks to create nice waves
- Here is Mark of Falworth using another technique involving loose bricks of different colors.
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1The second one is particularly impressive, but both of those are minifig scale, not microscale.– user23Commented Jan 24, 2012 at 21:29
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1oops. I somehow skipped "microscale". I'd use the same techniques regardless.– jfyelleCommented Jan 25, 2012 at 13:44
Use a blue stud and put a flat round Lego brick on top of it to make the beautiful ripples.