and i'm only talking like an inch or 2 raised not like ridiculously high amounts
No need for this. Humidity does not harm russians. Especially not the little bit from some wet substrate around the water bowl. Look how many live outside in Florida or other parts of the South. If your top is open, or if you are using an open table, a little wet substrate will not be able to raise humidity all that much anyway.
Raising the bowl up like that is likely to make it less desirable, less usable, and less comfortable for your tortoise. All of these things make him less likely to use his water dish. Sunk into the substrate works the best. My russians live on damp coir and when I refill their water bowls water splishes and splashes all over the place.
I have been using orchid bark for a wide variety or reptiles, including tortoises, and including russian tortoises for decades and I have never had a single animal choke on it, or have any other problem on it. I have also not heard of anyone else having a problem with it from other keepers or any of the vets or vet techs that I associate with.