Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Basis of Presentation The foregoing Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods presented and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the financial statements. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.
Liquidity Disclosure [Policy Text Block]	Liquidity The financial statements of the Company have been prepared using accounting principles applicable to a going concern, which assumes realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company incurred losses of $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, and $11.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. The Company had working capital of $4.7 million at June 30, 2014, and used cash in operations of $6.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, and $10.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. Cash requirements during the six months ended June 30, 2014 primarily reflect certain administrative and litigation costs related to the Company’s water project development efforts. Following the Superior Court ruling dismissing certain legal challenges during the quarter ended June 30, 2014, (See Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies”, below), the Company expects its on-going cash requirements associated with litigation to be less for the remaining two quarters of 2014. Currently, the Company’s sole focus is the development of its land and water assets. In March 2013, the Company completed arrangements with its senior lenders to refinance its then existing $66 million zero coupon convertible term loan (“Term Loan”). Under the terms of the new arrangements, the existing lenders held $30 million of non-convertible secured debt at the time of the transaction, with the balance of the Company’s outstanding debt of approximately $36 million held in a convertible note instrument. Further, the Company increased the capacity of the convertible note instrument with an additional $17.5 million to be used for working capital purposes. In July 2013, the majority of the $30 million of non-convertible secured debt was acquired in a private transaction by MSD Credit Opportunity Fund, L.P. (“MSD Credit”). In October 2013, the Company completed arrangements with MSD Credit to increase the secured debt facility by $10 million to fund additional working capital (“New Term Loan”). In July 2013, the Company filed a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 registering the issuance of up to $40 million in shares of the Company’s common stock, preferred stock, warrants, subscription rights, units and certain debt instruments in one or more public offerings. The Company’s existing cash resources of $5.3 million provide the Company with sufficient funds to meet its expected working capital needs through the end of the first quarter of 2015. Based upon the Company’s current and anticipated usage of cash resources, and depending on its progress toward implementation of the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project (“Water Project” or “Project”), it may require additional working capital during 2015. The Company will evaluate the amount of cash needed, and the manner in which such cash will be raised, on an ongoing basis. The Company may meet any future cash requirements through a variety of means, including equity or debt placements, or through the sale or other disposition of assets. Equity placements would be undertaken only to the extent necessary, so as to minimize the dilutive effect of any such placements upon the Company’s existing stockholders. Limitations on the Company’s liquidity and ability to raise capital may adversely affect it. Sufficient liquidity is critical to meet its resource development activities. Although the Company currently expects its sources of capital to be sufficient to meet its near-term liquidity needs, there can be no assurance that its liquidity requirements will continue to be satisfied. If the Company cannot raise needed funds, it might be forced to make substantial reductions in its operating expenses, which could adversely affect its ability to implement its current business plan.
Cash Flow Supplemental [Policy Text Block]	Supplemental Cash Flow Information No cash payments, including interest, are due on the corporate secured debt or convertible notes prior to their maturities. In connection with the October 2013 additional debt facility, the Company issued 700,000 shares to its senior lender subject to certain restrictions on resale. The fair value of the shares of common stock issued totaled approximately $2.4 million, which was recorded as additional debt discount with a corresponding amount recorded as additional paid-in capital. Such debt discount is accreted to the redemption value of the instrument over the remaining term of the loan as additional interest expense. As of June 30, 2014, the Company had $923,000 in non-cash additions to fixed assets recorded, which were included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, for the costs directly attributable to the development of the Water Project.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent Accounting Pronouncements Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits In July 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which requires an unrecognized tax benefit be presented on the balance sheet as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss ("NOL") or tax credit carryforward under certain circumstances. The guidance is effective for all fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have any impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures. Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on revenue recognition including enhanced disclosures. Under the new standard, revenue is recognized when (or as) a good or service is transferred to the customer and the customer obtains control of the good or service. The Company is currently evaluating this new guidance which is effective January 1, 2017 and cannot determine the impact of this standard at this time.

Accounting Policies, by Policy (Policies)

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2014

Basis of Accounting, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Basis of Presentation

The foregoing Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of the Company and contain all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, which management considers necessary for a fair statement of the Company’s financial position, the results of its operations and its cash flows for the periods presented and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates and such differences may be material to the financial statements. The results of operations for the six months ended June 30, 2014, are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

Liquidity Disclosure [Policy Text Block]

Liquidity

The financial statements of the Company have been prepared using accounting principles applicable to a going concern, which assumes realization of assets and settlement of liabilities in the normal course of business. The Company incurred losses of $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, and $11.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013. The Company had working capital of $4.7 million at June 30, 2014, and used cash in operations of $6.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014, and $10.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2013.

Cash requirements during the six months ended June 30, 2014 primarily reflect certain administrative and litigation costs related to the Company’s water project development efforts. Following the Superior Court ruling dismissing certain legal challenges during the quarter ended June 30, 2014, (See Note 6 - Commitments and Contingencies”, below), the Company expects its on-going cash requirements associated with litigation to be less for the remaining two quarters of 2014. Currently, the Company’s sole focus is the development of its land and water assets.

In March 2013, the Company completed arrangements with its senior lenders to refinance its then existing $66 million zero coupon convertible term loan (“Term Loan”). Under the terms of the new arrangements, the existing lenders held $30 million of non-convertible secured debt at the time of the transaction, with the balance of the Company’s outstanding debt of approximately $36 million held in a convertible note instrument. Further, the Company increased the capacity of the convertible note instrument with an additional $17.5 million to be used for working capital purposes. In July 2013, the majority of the $30 million of non-convertible secured debt was acquired in a private transaction by MSD Credit Opportunity Fund, L.P. (“MSD Credit”). In October 2013, the Company completed arrangements with MSD Credit to increase the secured debt facility by $10 million to fund additional working capital (“New Term Loan”).

In July 2013, the Company filed a new shelf registration statement on Form S-3 registering the issuance of up to $40 million in shares of the Company’s common stock, preferred stock, warrants, subscription rights, units and certain debt instruments in one or more public offerings.

The Company’s existing cash resources of $5.3 million provide the Company with sufficient funds to meet its expected working capital needs through the end of the first quarter of 2015. Based upon the Company’s current and anticipated usage of cash resources, and depending on its progress toward implementation of the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project (“Water Project” or “Project”), it may require additional working capital during 2015. The Company will evaluate the amount of cash needed, and the manner in which such cash will be raised, on an ongoing basis. The Company may meet any future cash requirements through a variety of means, including equity or debt placements, or through the sale or other disposition of assets. Equity placements would be undertaken only to the extent necessary, so as to minimize the dilutive effect of any such placements upon the Company’s existing stockholders. Limitations on the Company’s liquidity and ability to raise capital may adversely affect it. Sufficient liquidity is critical to meet its resource development activities. Although the Company currently expects its sources of capital to be sufficient to meet its near-term liquidity needs, there can be no assurance that its liquidity requirements will continue to be satisfied. If the Company cannot raise needed funds, it might be forced to make substantial reductions in its operating expenses, which could adversely affect its ability to implement its current business plan.

Cash Flow Supplemental [Policy Text Block]

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

No cash payments, including interest, are due on the corporate secured debt or convertible notes prior to their maturities.

In connection with the October 2013 additional debt facility, the Company issued 700,000 shares to its senior lender subject to certain restrictions on resale. The fair value of the shares of common stock issued totaled approximately $2.4 million, which was recorded as additional debt discount with a corresponding amount recorded as additional paid-in capital. Such debt discount is accreted to the redemption value of the instrument over the remaining term of the loan as additional interest expense.

As of June 30, 2014, the Company had $923,000 in non-cash additions to fixed assets recorded, which were included in other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets, for the costs directly attributable to the development of the Water Project.

New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Presentation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits

In July 2013, the FASB issued an accounting standards update which requires an unrecognized tax benefit be presented on the balance sheet as a reduction of a deferred tax asset for a net operating loss ("NOL") or tax credit carryforward under certain circumstances. The guidance is effective for all fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2013. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have any impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures.

Accounting Guidance Not Yet Adopted

On May 28, 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standards update on revenue recognition including enhanced disclosures. Under the new standard, revenue is recognized when (or as) a good or service is transferred to the customer and the customer obtains control of the good or service. The Company is currently evaluating this new guidance which is effective January 1, 2017 and cannot determine the impact of this standard at this time.

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for reporting when there is a substantial doubt about an entity's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time (generally a year from the balance sheet date). Disclose: (a) pertinent conditions and events giving rise to the assessment of substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern for a reasonable period of time, (b) the possible effects of such conditions and events, (c) management's evaluation of the significance of those conditions and events and any mitigating factors, (d) possible discontinuance of operations, (e) management's plans (including relevant prospective financial information), and (f) information about the recoverability or classification of recorded asset amounts or the amounts or classification of liabilities. If management's plans alleviate the substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosure of the principal conditions and events that initially raised the substantial doubt about the entity's ability to continue as a going concern would be expected to be considered. Disclose whether operations for the current or prior years generated sufficient cash to cover current obligations, whether waivers were obtained from creditors relating to the company's default under the provisions of debt agreements and possible effects of such conditions and events, such as: whether there is a possible need to obtain additional financing (debt or equity) or to liquidate certain holdings to offset future cash flow deficiencies. Disclose appropriate parent company information when parent is dependent upon remittances from subsidiaries to satisfy its obligations.

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