Long Term Water Assets - Volume of Water Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended		3 Months Ended																	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 aft	Dec. 31, 2013 aft	Sep. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014 DMB	Dec. 31, 2013 DMB	Sep. 30, 2014 AVEK aft		Dec. 31, 2013 AVEK aft		Dec. 31, 2009 AVEK aft	Dec. 31, 2008 AVEK aft	Sep. 30, 2014 Affiliated Entity aft	Dec. 31, 2013 Affiliated Entity aft	Dec. 31, 2009 SWP contracts aft	Sep. 30, 2014 Wheeler Ridge Maricopa Water Storage District aft	Dec. 31, 2013 Wheeler Ridge Maricopa Water Storage District aft	Sep. 30, 2014 Tejon-Castac Water District aft	Dec. 31, 2013 Tejon-Castac Water District aft	Sep. 30, 2013 Transferable water aft	Sep. 30, 2014 Transferable water DMB aft	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Stock	Dec. 31, 2013 Common Stock	Mar. 31, 2014 Maximum DMB
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Common stock issued for water purchase (in shares)																					251,876	251,876
Long Term Water Assets, Contract Renewal Optional Term		35 years
Cost of Purchased Water, Area				656
Long Term Water Assets, Purchased, Annual Fee Increase, Percent																							3.00%
Water Sold (Volume)	6,250
Water Assets Sales Price	$ 7,702
Cost of Purchased Water	$ 4,523				$ 18,700
Banked water and water for future delivery
AVEK water bank						13,461		12,280		6,393	8,393
Company water bank						8,700		8,818
AVEK water for future delivery						2,362		2,362						3,444
Banked water and water for future delivery						24,523		23,460									37,552	42,685
Transferable water						15,229	[1]	14,786	[1]
Water Contracts												10,137	10,137		15,547	15,547	5,749	5,479
Water assets	49,889	48,383																	22,179	6,693
Total purchased and contracted water sources in acre feet	108,737	112,094
Transferable water with AVEK multiple			1.5

[1] Any transferable water with AVEK that is used by the Company or returned by AVEK to the Company will be returned at a 1.5 to 1 factor giving the Company use of a total of 22,179 acre feet.