I need advice for engineering a waterfall.

[HiSodiumContent]

I've got a sourced water brook on my map and I can't shake the desire to turn it into a waterfall. I've had some thoughts about how best to do it, but I need some input from folks who have done this without drowning dwarves so I can do it with minimal risk. There's a couple steps to the process, so I'll lay out my intention and knowledgeable folks can correct bad ideas. Also, this all may be entirely too much effort for something that can be accomplished with buckets and screw pumps, so if the juice is absolutely not worth the squeeze, let me know.

First step: Prep.
In preparing for the waterfall, I identify where I will dig out from the brook and create a small (1 wide) tunnel with a floodgate at both ends of the tunnel, connected to levers away from potential flood zones. In front of the outer flood gate, there is a grate to prevent dwarves from getting washed down the hole, which I create with ramps/stairs leading down however many Z levels to the intended waterfall display area, digging out the waterfall zone adjacent to the stairs. I put a hatch cover on the stairs so that I can forbid the dangerous waterfall staircase when it's in operation. I grate off the hole where the waterfall display is and build walls around it, leaving an open space to allow mist to escape somewhere. Underneath the display area is a cavern area somewhere that touches the edge of the map and I direct the end water flow to the edge somehow? Not sure for how best to do this.

Second step: Breaking the dam
I've heard of a method to mine out stuff like this with little to no risk of having dwarves get washed away, but I'm fuzzy on the specifics. Supposedly you build some ramps and a bridge and then you can mine the spot without getting your feet wet, but again, don't know the specifics. I'm also wondering if I need to break the brook edge on the ground level or if I can do it on the first underground Z level. This is the part I need elaboration on, for sure.

Third step: The waterfall works?
Here I just want to confirm the management of the waterfall after its construction, like if the water freezes in winter I can just pull a lever to close one of the floodgates in autumn and not have to worry about falling ice, yeah? Are there any drainage or other issues I should keep an eye out for when using sourced water?

Screw pump waterfall is probably wildly superior to this method, huh?

[UKtwo]

My grates randomly broke when the ice melted.

[HiSodiumContent]

Originally posted by UKtwo:

My grates randomly broke when the ice melted.

Waterfalls and many water bodies become or have moving ice during winter, which can kill dwarves and break things. It's usually a good idea to flip off any waterfalls connected to frozen water when winter comes, or you might get dwarves getting killed by falling ice.

[Top Marx]

Couldn't you use a bridge instead of a floodgate to prevent that?

[Leg Day]

Channel the surface to avoid drowning. The water flows into tunnel into floodgate. Pull lever and enjoy. I'm no expert but I think I reduced the current flow to stop overflow. Make a bend have water go through a corner two squares connecting. A brook should be ok tho.
I make a waterfall into well for my tavern every game this way. It works.