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I've trying to do swamp bases for my new Marine army. My first attempt looks pretty good--I mixed some fine green flock into the water effects to give it a scummy look--but the issue is is that the effects don't cry perfectly flat--they tend to form bubbles as they dry and cling to the foot of the Marine

Anyone have any advice?

What material are you using for the water effect? Most cure over time, allowing you to take care of bubbles before the product fully sets. Tapping the base sharply and repeatedly can help dislodge them, allowing them to rise to the surface, where they can be popped with a fine pin. If done early enough, the "water" is still sufficiently liquid to self-level and fill the void the bubble would otherwise leave.

As for clinging to the foot, do you fully fill the void under the model's feet or are they sitting on top of rough basing? Bubbles will naturally cling to what they can (feet, in this case), but you may be inadvertently creating air pockets that are exacerbating the issue. Lots of tapping should dislodge them for popping, but filling the voids with putty or the like before pouring would remove that source, altogether.

Also bear in mind that the thinner the layers poured, the more manageable they become. If you're doing a lot of bases/larger scenery pieces and using a 2-part resin, it may be worth spreading the mix across a larger number/surface, but in thinner layers (to be repeated until the desired depth is achieved). "Pour, dry, done" products mean you don't have to worry about batch size, since you don't have to gauge the amount to mix, so you can use thin layers without any wastage, even on a single small base.

Which water effects?

Air bubbles tend to be trapped air or entrained air. Air can be trapped by stuff like sand on the base that gets covered by you chosen material. Air can be entrained when you mix an A+B compound or shake a bottle of one part material.

You can avoid that by carefully painting a thin layer over the base first to seal in the base materials first. For entrained air, stir...dont shake. Add a little alcohol to it (one part compounds), then blow across the surface while it dries or cures. Two part compounds can also be aided with gentle heat (though be careful).

The miniscous is more difficult to deal with as you are fighting physics. Thinner layers and a bit of alcohol mixed in to break the surface tension are the best ways I have found.