Improving Living Resource Responses in Ecosystem Restoration: An Illustration Using the Chesapeake Bay

ABSTRACT Two key components of large‐scale ecosystem restoration planning are: (1) prioritizing individual projects based on how living resources respond, and (2) selecting and analyzing indicators of living resources to assess restoration progress and performance. We present an approach for performing statistical and ecological modeling analyzes to examine the in situ responses of living resources to restoration actions. The results can be directly used for the prioritization of project areas and the analysis of performance using ecological indicators. The approach uses a flowchart showing the logic of analyzes. With 12 ecological concepts and principles as the foundation, the approach enables the development of an analysis plan that details the statistical and modeling analyzes. We illustrate the approach with the Chesapeake Bay Program. The approach is generally applicable and can be tailored to many large‐scale estuarine and coastal restoration programs.