Long Term Water Assets (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Components of water assets
Total long-term assets	$ 29,422	$ 29,044
less: Current portion	(708)	(708)
Long-lived assets held-for-sale	28,714	28,336
Banked water and water for future delivery [Member]
Components of water assets
Total long-term assets	4,448	3,546
Transferable water [Member]
Components of water assets
Total long-term assets	8,988	8,988
SWP Contracts [Member]
Components of water assets
Total long-term assets	$ 15,986	$ 16,510

Current assets (normally turning over within one year or one business cycle if longer) that are held for sale apart from normal operations and anticipated to be sold within one year.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 10

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e1107-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 144

-Paragraph 46

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Name:	us-gaap_AssetsHeldForSaleCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant