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			12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014 aft	Dec. 31, 2014 aft		Dec. 31, 2013 aft		Dec. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2013 aft	Dec. 31, 2009 aft	Dec. 31, 2008 aft
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Contract renewal optional term				35 years
Cost of purchased water	$ 4,523	$ 4,523
Water assets, water sold (volume)	6,250
Water assets sales price	7,702	7,702
Banked water and water for future delivery
Water Contracts		10,137		10,137		10,137
Total purchased water - third parties		49,461		48,383		48,383
Long Term Water Assets, Contracts with Company		109,158		112,094		112,094
AVEK
Banked water and water for future delivery
AVEK water bank		13,033		12,280		12,280					6,393	8,393
Company water bank		8,700		8,818		8,818
AVEK water for future delivery		2,362		2,362		2,362
Banked water and water for future delivery		24,095		23,460		23,460
Transferable water		15,229	[1]	14,786	[1]	14,786	[1]
Total purchased water - third parties										14,786
SWP contracts
Banked water and water for future delivery
AVEK water for future delivery											3,444
DMB Pacific LLC
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Cost of purchased water						18,700
Cost of purchased water, area		656
Wheeler Ridge Maricopa Water Storage District
Banked water and water for future delivery
Water Contracts		15,547		15,547		15,547
Tejon-Castac Water District
Banked water and water for future delivery
Banked water and water for future delivery		38,401		42,685		42,685
Water Contracts		5,749		5,479		5,479
Transferable water | AVEK
Banked water and water for future delivery
Total purchased water - third parties										22,179
Long-term Water Assets, Transferrable Water Factor										1.5
Transferable water | DMB Pacific LLC
Banked water and water for future delivery
Total purchased water - third parties		6,693
SWP contracts
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Water contract future amortization		$ 1,351
Common Stock
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Common stock issued for water purchase (in shares)				251,876		251,876
Maximum | DMB Pacific LLC
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Annual fee increase, percent								3.00%
Scenario, Forecast | DMB Pacific LLC
Long-term Water Assets [Line Items]
Cost of purchased water, area									675

[1] 14,786 acre-feet of 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 feet.($ in thousands)December 31, 2014 December 31, 2013Banked water and water for future delivery$4,779 $4,779Transferable water9,309 8,988Water Contracts (net of accumulated amortization of $4,188 and $2,837 at December 31, 2014 and December 2013, respectively)32,612 33,804Total long-term assets46,700 47,571less: Current portion(1,351) (817) $45,349 $46,754