It’s possible but not certain that the ancient lake sturgeon, a threatened species in Michigan, swim through the rivers stretch en route from Lake Michigan to Grand Rapids, O'Keefe added.

Tom Werkman, a fishing guide and Ottawa County Parks commissioner worries such damage would scare away anglers and harm his business.

“People will just end up going elsewhere,” he said.

Meekhof, who himself is an outdoorsman, said dredging would “expand more recreational opportunities for the people of the state of Michigan.” He and Hibma called the criticisms premature until the DNR studies whether pollution lies beneath the riverbed.

“Wait ‘til you see what the core samples are, before you start crying Chicken Little,” Meekhof said.

Hibma added: “We understand the environmental concerns, but we’re in the fact-finding stage.”

Tom Miedema, a Hudsonville turf farmer who owns a charter boat in Grand Haven, said he’s a big fan of the waterway project as long as tests show it won’t hurt the river.

“Going up and down the river would be a great thing for a lot of people,” said the 50-year-old who bought his first boat before he got his driver license.

“Even if this project wouldn’t happen, to do the studies and to know what is happening in that river – I think that’s a huge thing.”

Lack of input

Neither Hibma nor Meekhof formally asked downriver communities if they wanted the project before they set it in motion. As more public officials and residents learn of it, growing numbers have rejected the idea or at least demanded answers before lending their support.

“We have to deal with the consequences,” Grand Haven City Manager Pat McGinnis told Bridge. “If you’re going to spend public dollars on it, allow us to be part of the public and weigh in.”

Ottawa County is the biggest owner of riverfront property in the proposed dredging zone. Over the past two decades, it has purchased thousands of acres of lands for protection and recreation as part of a $41 million Grand River Greenway Initiative, and county officials say dredging could muck up those years of planning.

The county’s resolution against the project noted opposition from “many kayakers, fishermen and other small boat users” during a public meeting in April while “not a single power boat owner appeared to report that he or she was in support.”

State Sen. Winnie Brinks, D-Grand Rapids, said she wished the project drew more scrutiny before lawmakers moved it forward. As a former member of the House last year, she voted for budget bills that earmarked funds for the project and the rest of state government. She said that process didn’t lend itself for closely considering specific projects in Michigan communities.

“It’s difficult for us to know everything that’s in there, and to be able to isolate an item is almost impossible, right? Because you’re asked to vote yes or no on such a large budget,” she said.

Rep. Rachel Hood, D-Grand Rapids, said Hibma and Meekhof should have done more to educate the public.

“To have such an invasive and huge project underway, and to be giving millions to it, I do think it was their intent to get it done without public engagement,” she said.