1. Hydrological - the measurement of water level, water flow and water quality in streams, rivers, ponds, estuaries, irrigation canals, lakes, reservoirs and aquifers;
2. Meteorological - flood warning / forecast and weather station configurations defined as hydromet stations and agricultural stations; and
3. Oceanographic - tide gauge and current measurements for shipping channels, water quality, and tsunami warning.

History of Stevens Water Monitoring Systems, Inc.

Stevens Water Monitoring Systems was founded in 1911 as a division of Leupold & Stevens, Inc. in Portland, Oregon USA. The founder of Stevens, Mr. John C. Stevens, was a well-established civic leader in Portland, Oregon's history. In addition to building Stevens into a world class water monitoring company, J.C. Stevens also contributed significantly to Portland's development and his most note-worthy achievement is his role as the founder of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI).

Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is a family owned Oregon Corporation that manufactures sporting optics scopes and has approximately 500 employees in Beaverton, Oregon.

During Stevens' early years, various products were developed including the original chart recorders. With installations in over 40,000 remote water monitoring sites worldwide, the Stevens chart recorders are the foundation of and have influenced the stream gaging standards used today. In fact, many of the mechanical instruments are still in gaging stations around the globe with the Stevens name prominently displayed on the product. Although, Stevens’ provides microprocessor based sensors, data loggers and telemetry instruments, Stevens continues to support the mechanical chart recorders, which was the first true real-time continuous water level measurement instrument. Stevens' reputation, based on reliable quality equipment and quality, helped position the Company as the market leader in water resource instrumentation for most of the 20th century.

In the mid 1980's, the water monitoring industry was in transformation from mechanical to electronic systems. Running on the continuing success of Stevens mechanical business model, Stevens began developing electronic sensors and data loggers. In the early 1990's, Stevens introduced new electronic instruments and set into action a plan to regain their position as the market leader. However, Leupold & Stevens, Inc. Board of Directors concluded that in the best interest of Stevens’ customers, the Stevens' division should be divested to be operated by leaders having 100% focus. Accordingly, Stevens was acquired in April 1998 and is currently being managed by the new owners with an ignited fervor and passion that customers have come to expect. Stevens today is utilizing the latest in technology to help our customers succeed.

Under new leadership, Stevens has undergone an impressive corporate renewal and is focused on a new level of innovation, customer service and customer support.

Stevens' Strategic Aliances and Partnerships

Partnership with Hach Hydromet

In 2009 Stevens entered into a partnership with Hach Hydromet to provide system integration solutions for the North American market. Stevens will also be a reseller for their popular line of water quality sondes, as well as OTT water level products.

Strategic Aliance with Greenspan Technologies Pty Ltd., a division of Tyco, Inc.

Stevens, in alliance with Greenspan Technologies Pty Ltd., owned by Tyco, Inc.'s Flow Control Division, markets and services Greenspan's water quality sensors, water quality analyzers and water level pressure sensors.

Acquistion of Vitel, Inc.

In March 2000, Stevens acquired Vitel, Inc., a Virginia corporation. Vitel has been a leading provider of environmental satellite telemetry systems. The name 'Vitel' is derived from the words 'environmental telemetry'. Vitel is known for its development and manufacturing of data collection platforms and satellite transmitters and receivers to communicate data over satellites including GOES, GMS, INSAT, and METEOSAT among others. In 1995, Vitel was awarded a contract from National Oceanographic Atmospheric Administration / National Environmental Satellite Data & Information Service (NOAA / NESDIS) to design and develop demodulators, transmitters and certification standards for the 300 / 1200 BPS data collection system upgrade. Vitel's communications technology coupled with Stevens products, enables customers to remotely monitor numerous environmental parameters with a high degree of confidence that the collected data is current, accurate and complete.

Stevens and Vitel's operations have been integrated. Today Stevens manufactures and supports the Vitel product line out of Stevens corporate headquarters in Portland, Oregon.