subject: Designing your Custom Waterfalls [print this page] The slope is another challenging feature that you should consider in building your waterfall. It is the most important element in a custom waterfall design. Make sure you create a graded descent for the water that is proportional to the length of the channel and the size and depth of the cascading falls. To design a slope that is more like the real one is no small challenge, but it can be achieved easily.