Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	6 Months Ended
Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Jun. 30, 2015
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, 2015, are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2015.
Liquidity Accounting Policy Disclosure [Policy Text Block]	Liquidity The Consolidated 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 $10.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, and $9.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. The Company had a working capital deficit of $27.3 million at June 30, 2015, and used cash in operations of $5.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2015, and $6.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2014. Cash requirements during the six months ended June 30, 2015, primarily reflect certain administrative and litigation costs related to the Company’s water project development efforts. 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. In November 2014, the Company raised approximately $14.6 million with the sale of 1,435,713 shares at $10.1751 per share by way of a takedown from this shelf registration. The $14.6 million in additional working capital raised in November 2014, as discussed above, together with the Company’s existing cash resources, provides the Company with sufficient funds to meet its expected working capital needs through the end of February 2016. The Company has a first mortgage debt obligation of $36.2 million coming due in March 2016. 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”), the first mortgage obligation may be extinguished, extended or replaced. Further, the Company may require additional working capital during 2016. The Company is evaluating 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. The Company has engaged an investment bank and is currently pursuing an alternative for the first mortgage obligation that is compatible with the construction financing needed for the implementation of the Water Project. 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 or refinance its current $36.2 million debt obligation prior to maturity in March 2016, it might default on its debt obligations, which would adversely affect its ability to implement its current business plan and ultimately its viability as a company.
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 June 2015, approximately $117 thousand in convertible notes were converted by certain of the Company’s lenders. As a result, 14,600 shares of common stock were issued to the lenders. The Company recorded $200 thousand in non-cash additions to fixed assets during the period ended June 30, 2015.
New Accounting Pronouncements, Policy [Policy Text Block]	Recent Accounting Pronouncements 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. On July 9, 2015, the FASB approved a one-year deferral, updating the effective date to January 1, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating this new guidance and cannot determine the impact of this standard at this time. In August 2014, the FASB issued an accounting standards update requiring an entity’s management to evaluate whether there are conditions or events, considered in aggregate, that raise substantial doubt about the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern within one year after the date that the financial statements are issued (or within one year after the date that the financial statements are available to be issued when applicable). The Company is currently evaluating this new guidance which is effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2016, and for all annual and interim periods thereafter, and cannot determine the impact of this standard at this time. On April 7, 2015, the FASB issued an accounting standards update that will require debt issuance costs to be presented in the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the related debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. Currently, these costs are presented as a deferred charge asset. The Company is currently evaluating this new guidance which is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2015, and all annual and interim periods thereafter, and cannot determine the impact of this standard at this time.