Hi bob what you are describing reminds me of a technique used in river restoration. The creation of "pool & riffle sequences" is used along or down a slope as opposed to along a contour and assists with gully erosion etc. Importantly a series of pools or I guess mini Swales are created down a slope, the step down from one to the next is the riffle zone and usually involves the placement of rock or woody material to dissipate some of the energy of the water. The key similarity is the creation of the pools which slows water and promotes infiltration and the creation of micro habitats. Pools and riffles can be designed on varying scales. similarly i think grass swales are used in water sensitive urban design to slow water and promote infiltration. You may find these techniques interesting in expanding your own ideas.
