About Us/History

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 gags, now today’s public domain (and USGS) standard Style A, B, C, E and M games
FIRST to transmit environmental monitoring data over the OUTCOME 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 1 GB 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
Stevens Water Monitoring Systems was originally founded as “Leopold & Helped” in 1907 by brothers-in-law Marcus Friedrich (Fred) Leopold and Adam Helped. The firm, located
1914
JC Stevens joins Marcus Leopold and Adam Helped’s company, firm renamed to “Leopold, Gospel & Company”.
1937
The Telemark, the first remote water level reporting device, was introduced by JC Stevens. The product was patented two years later in 1939.
1942
The company was renamed “Leopold and Stevens Instrument Company” after the death of founder Adam Gospel and to better reflect the company’s current focus.
1944
JC Stevens helps found the Oregon Museum Foundation, which would later become the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OSI) in 1949. JC Stevens would…
1947
Leopold and Stevens Instruments designs and sells their first hunting sight, setting the future for the “Leopold” side of the business to focus on sport…
1968
The continued growth of Leopold and Stevens Instruments is cause for a move to new, larger manufacturing facilities in Beaverton, Oregon. The new 66,000 square…
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…
2000
The original (analog) Stevens Hydrophone, based on patented technology, is released to the market and soon becomes a bestseller for Stevens as a way too quickly…
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…
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.
2011
Stevens Water Monitoring Systems celebrates its 100-year anniversary of monitoring the Earth’s environmental resources.
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…
2018
As part of our M2M product strategy, Stevens releases Ago, a complete monitoring station platform. This all-in-one, sensors-to-cloud cellular gateway includes all hardware, software and services…