In what's being called "an historic day", Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens has sold his water rights in Roberts County to the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority, or CRMWA.

The ceremonial signing of the contracts with CRMWA's 11 member cities took place in Plainview Thursday and Pronews 7 was the only Amarillo TV station to attend the event.

CRMWA's members and representatives from its member towns, including an Amarillo contingency, were on hand in Plainview for their regular meeting before today's contract signings with Pickens.

After the regular meeting, CRMWA General Manager Kent Satterwhite said the day was a culmination of a decade of hard work he wasn't always sure he would see.

"I can tell you it's exciting, it's a huge step from CRMWA, for the region and for me personally. It's a big deal," said Satterwhite.

Following a welcome at lunch from Plainview Mayor John Anderson, CRMWA's president, Norman Wright had a few words for those in attendance.

"I want to publicly welcome all of you to this tremendous occasion and it's an awesome day!" exclaimed Wright.

Then Pickens, who showed up just before the lunch, spoke about the 4 trillion gallon, 103 million dollar water deal... comparing it to the old joke about a guy thinking his happiest day was buying a motorboat...

"The first day was a great day, but when he got rid of it, it was a better day..." joked Pickens

And then he said he was glad the water was staying here in the panhandle, instead of his original plan to sell it to cities outside the area.

"I don't want you to think that this is just a becasue of...but I can tell you that I feel better about it, feel a lot better about it, that the water is staying up here."

Then all eleven member cities signed their contracts, with Amarillo's representatives leading the way.

The purchase price will be passed on to CRMWA cities in the form of an increase in water and sewer utilities...but should ensure water here in the panhandle area for more than 100 years past our current reserve.