Measures are a core component of the success of the Nature Conservancy’s Long Island Chapter’s efforts to restore hard shell clam populations and the ecosystem services provided by clams in Great South Bay. They defined a measurable objective and collected baseline data, began seeding the area with clams, and scientifically evaluated the effectiveness of their restoration efforts. Their data has helped them manage the project adaptively; more importantly, the documentation of their success has spawned interest in restoration projects in the adjacent areas and in ecosystem-based management of marine resources statewide.