Meet the man tasked with defending the Youghiogheny River

For Eric Harder, protecting the Youghiogheny River means protecting his home.

Harder developed his love for water at a community swimming pool while growing up in Kansas. The experience led him to become a rafting guide in his mid-20s. A self-described defining moment in life, Harder credits the experience for developing his deep commitment to outdoor stewardship.

In his third year as the Youghiogheny Riverkeeper, Harder considers it his job to defend the river and its tributaries. He regularly conducts water samples in the Yough river basin, spanning from Oakland, Md., to McKeesport to track the source of pollutants. Harder posts the tests results www.theswimguide.org.

The Youghiogheny Riverkeeper program, started in 1994 by the Mountain Watershed Association based in Melcroft, Fayette County, is part of a larger organization, the Waterkeeper Alliance, that advocates for waterways around the world.

Harder hopes that by swimming in a safe, clean pool of water along the Youghiogheny watershed people will develop their own sense of stewardship for the river, leading to grassroots support to protect the waterway and the communities that depend on it.