-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 AS5GAj5QO1v4Qvuc2TiTMpq6fe2qZ+iUSLqSsWasrgBgXkzE/lUowCutPW/JYI8x
 3yOYMCPem7J1c+iHgvEQBw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001191901-09-000002.txt : 20090527
<SEC-HEADER>0001191901-09-000002.hdr.sgml : 20090527
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090527160531
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001191901-09-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090522
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090527
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090527

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CADIZ INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000727273
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	WATER SUPPLY [4941]
		IRS NUMBER:				770313235
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		550 SOUTH HOPE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2850
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
		BUSINESS PHONE:		213-271-1600

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		550 SOUTH HOPE STREET
		STREET 2:		SUITE 2850
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CADIZ LAND CO INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	PACIFIC AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920602

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	ARIDTECH INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19880523

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			SHAHEEN TIMOTHY J
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001191901

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-12114
		FILM NUMBER:		09854587

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		550 SOUTH HOPE STREET
		STREET 2:		STE 2850
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90071
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-05-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000727273</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CADIZ INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>cdzi</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001191901</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>SHAHEEN TIMOTHY J</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>550 SOUTH HOPE STREET</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>STE 2850</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LOS ANGELES</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>90071</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-05-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>30000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>40906</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The shares were allocated to the Reporting Person under the Issuer's 2007 Management Equity Incentive Plan, all of which vested and were issuable immediately.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Timothy J. Shaheen</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-05-27</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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