Homeland Security is a big issue. Since 9/11, waterway security has increased, but the Coast Guard and local first responders have miles of water and shoreline to cover and can use some extra eyes and ears.

Boaters and others "who live, work or play around America's waterfront areas" are being urged to work hand in hand with America's Waterway Watch, a combined effort of the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Reserve and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Be alert to unusual events and individuals in our waterfront environment and report it to the National Response Center at 877-24WATCH. If you suspect immediate danger to life or property, call 9-1-1 or the Coast Guard on Marine Channel 16.

To be clear, you are not joining an organization, going to meetings or acting in any official capacity. Rather, you are being asked to participate in the boating equivalent of a Neighborhood Watch program, to be particularly sensitive to unusual activity in locations deemed vulnerable to terrorist attacks, with the caveat that you are more likely to recognize what is unusual or suspicious in areas with which you are familiar.

Consider vulnerable those areas under and around bridges, tunnels or overpasses; near commercial areas or services like ports, fuel docks, cruise ships or marinas; near industrial facilities such as power plants and oil, chemical or water intake facilities; near military bases and vessels, other government facilities or security zones; in and around passenger terminals for ferries and day cruiser lines; or near railroad lines serving any of the mentioned facilities.

The Coast Guard offers up the following list of potentially suspicious behavior:

People appearing to be engaged in surveillance of any kind (note taking, shooting video/photos, making sketches or asking questions).

Unattended vessels or vehicles in unusual locations.

Lights flashing between boats.

Unusual diving activity.

Unusual number of people on board.

Unusual night operations.

Recovering or tossing items into/onto the waterway or shoreline.

Operating in or passing through an area that does not typically have such activity.

Fishing/hunting in locations not typically used for those activities.

Missing fencing or lighting near sensitive near sensitive locations.

Anchoring in an area not typically used for anchoring.

Transfer of people or things between ships or between ship and short outside of port.

Anyone operating in an aggressive manner.

Individuals establishing businesses or roadside food stands near sensitive locations.

Small planes flying over critical locations.

People attempting to buy or rent fishing or recreational vessels with cash for short-term, undefined use.

Clearly, such suspicious behaviors are not at all suspicious under many, if not most, circumstances. You probably wouldn't, for instance, be alarmed by many of these behaviors at a raft-up at your favorite anchorage. But taking the location and your familiarity with the area into consideration should help you decide if you need to call in the activity.

Read more about America's Waterway Watch on their website.

-Linda Hoff