About Us

HISTORY:

Stevens Water Monitoring Systems was founded in 1911 as a division of Leupold & Stevens, Inc. in Portland, Oregon USA.  Over the years, Stevens’ original chart recorders became the foundation for today’s water level measurement standards. Stevens’ reliable equipment and quality reputation helped position Stevens as the market leader in water resource instrumentation for most of the 20th century.  

TODAY:

Stevens designs, manufactures, and integrates environmental data acquisition systems with expertise in water resources, soil moisture, and matric potential.  The trademark “Measurements to Mind” highlights Stevens’ seamless integration of sensors, data acquisition equipment with cloud-based software for insight of water resources, soil, and weather to facility management of, and optimize conditions of are our water resources, climate, agriculture, and golf & sports turf.

CUSTOMERS FIRST:

Integrated systems begin with an understanding the customers’ objectives and then providing an applicable system that consists of sensors, data logging and process control instruments, communication equipment, and necessary software for data presentation and modeling to help the customer understand environmental conditions and efficiently execute decisions. Our objective is to provide the shortest path between environmental conditions and your understanding of those environmental conditions to efficiently execute the best decisions.

Founded in

OREGON, USA

and been here since 1911

Our focus is the earth’s valuable water resources, in every form it occurs:

A History of Innovation

With a focus on simplicity, innovation and efficient solutions, Stevens Water are experts in hydrological and environmental monitoring.

We’ve been innovating water monitoring solutions since 1911.

FIRST remote, unattended water level monitoring instrument—the standard for today’s water level measurements

FIRST with a water resource data book used by many professionals and universities (now in its 6th edition)

FIRST with a telemetry instrument for water level monitoring (“Telemark”)

FIRST to develop a standard of visual water level measurement using staff gages, now today’s public domain (and USGS) standard Style A, B, C, E and M gages

FIRST to transmit environmental monitoring data over the ORBCOMM LEO system

FIRST to develop a Bluetooth product targeted at the environmental monitoring market’s demands

FIRST data logger for the environmental monitoring market with more than 1GB memory

1911
JC Stevens invents the Type A chart recorder, the first continuous stage recording device. This original design is the basis for today’s Type A and…
1911
1911
Stevens Water Monitoring Systems was originally founded as “Leupold & Voelpel” in 1907 by brothers-in-law Marcus Friedrich (Fred) Leupold and Adam Voelpel. The firm, located…
1911
1914
JC Stevens joins Marcus Leupold and Adam Voelpel’s company, firm renamed to “Leupold, Volpel & Company”.
1914
1937
The Telemark, the first remote water level reporting device, was introduced by JC Stevens. The product was patented two years later in 1939.
1937
1942
The company was renamed “Leupold and Stevens Instrument Company” after the death of founder Adam Volpel and to better reflect the company’s current focus.
1942
1944
JC Stevens helps found the Oregon Museum Foundation, which would later become the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in 1949. JC Stevens would…
1944
1947
Leupold and Stevens Instruments designs and sells their first hunting sight, setting the future for the “Leupold” side of the business to focus on sport…
1947
1968
The continued growth of Leupold and Stevens Instruments is cause for a move to new, larger manufacturing facilities in Beaverton, Oregon. The new 66,000 square…
1968
1998
The optics side of the company and the water monitoring side of the company are separated from each other, with Stevens becoming “Stevens Water Monitoring…
1998
2000
The original (analog) Stevens HydraProbe, based on patented technology, is released to the market and soon becomes a best-seller for Stevens as a way to quickly…
2000
2004
Stevens releases the Shark, the first Bluetooth radio transmitter specifically designed for the environmental monitoring and testing market. It can link devices from up to 300…
2004
2007
Stevens moves to its new corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon near Portland International Airport, affording more room to grow as the company expands its business.
2007
2011
Stevens Water Monitoring Systems celebrates its 100 year anniversary of monitoring the Earth’s environmental resources.
2011
2015
Signaling the beginning of a new chapter of innovative product development, Stevens completely re-brands the company. Our new tagline “Measurements to Mind” shows how invested we…
2015
2018
As part of our M2M product strategy, Stevens releases Avo, a complete monitoring station platform. This all-in-one, sensors-to-cloud cellular gateway includes all hardware, software and services…
2018

Our core values:

STRONG

TECHNICAL

ENTHUSIASTIC

VERSATILE

ENGAGING

NURTURING

SUCCESSFUL

Do what’s right, not what’s easy

Engineers, technologists, innovators

Have fun and love what we do

Proactive in ALL aspects

Professional with ALL

Easy to do business with

Grow big, or go home!