Note 14 - Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Notes to Financial Statements
Subsequent Events [Text Block]	NOTE 14 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On February 8, 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Fenner Valley Farms LLC (“FVF”), a subsidiary of Water Asset Management LLC, a related party, pursuant to which FVF will lease, for a 99-year term, 2,100 acres owned by Cadiz in San Bernardino County, California, to be used to plant, grow and harvest agricultural crops. As consideration for the lease, FVF paid the Company a one-time payment of $12,000,000 upon closing. Under the FVF lease, FVF has the option to lease up to an additional 7,500 acres of the Company’s property according to the following payment and schedule: an additional 2,093 acres for $12,000,000 if notice is provided by June 1, 2016; an additional 2,093 acres for $12,000,000 if notice is provided by September 1, 2016; and an additional 3,314 acres for $19,000,000 if notice is provided by December 22, 2016. Also on February 8, 2016, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement with its senior lenders to (i) provide for the application of $10.5 million of a $12 million payment pursuant FVF lease which satisfied the repayment condition of the First Amendment to the Credit Agreement to extend the maturity date; (ii) to require Cadiz to pay 50% of all future quarterly interest payments in cash, rather than in accretion to principal, beginning with the quarterly interest payment due June 5, 2016; and (iii) to provide for certain related matters. On February 25, 2016, the Company exercised its right to extend the maturity date of the first tranche of its Senior Secured Debt and, at that time, incurred an additional extension fee of $2.25 million which is to be paid at the election of the lenders in either additional debt or Cadiz common stock to be issued at a predetermined price. On March 4, 2016, the Company entered into a Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement which provides the lenders an additional 90 days to make their election to receive the extension fee in additional debt or Cadiz common stock in exchange for extending the due date of the Company’s Senior Secured Debt from June 30, 2017 to September 28, 2017. Interest on the Senior Secured Debt will continue to accrue at 8% per annum.

NOTE 14 – SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On February 8, 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement with Fenner Valley Farms LLC (“FVF”), a subsidiary of Water Asset Management LLC, a related party, pursuant to which FVF will lease, for a 99-year term, 2,100 acres owned by Cadiz in San Bernardino County, California, to be used to plant, grow and harvest agricultural crops. As consideration for the lease, FVF paid the Company a one-time payment of $12,000,000 upon closing.

Under the FVF lease, FVF has the option to lease up to an additional 7,500 acres of the Company’s property according to the following payment and schedule: an additional 2,093 acres for $12,000,000 if notice is provided by June 1, 2016; an additional 2,093 acres for $12,000,000 if notice is provided by September 1, 2016; and an additional 3,314 acres for $19,000,000 if notice is provided by December 22, 2016.

Also on February 8, 2016, the Company entered into a Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement with its senior lenders to (i) provide for the application of $10.5 million of a $12 million payment pursuant FVF lease which satisfied the repayment condition of the First Amendment to the Credit Agreement to extend the maturity date; (ii) to require Cadiz to pay 50% of all future quarterly interest payments in cash, rather than in accretion to principal, beginning with the quarterly interest payment due June 5, 2016; and (iii) to provide for certain related matters.

On February 25, 2016, the Company exercised its right to extend the maturity date of the first tranche of its Senior Secured Debt and, at that time, incurred an additional extension fee of $2.25 million which is to be paid at the election of the lenders in either additional debt or Cadiz common stock to be issued at a predetermined price. On March 4, 2016, the Company entered into a Third Amendment to the Credit Agreement which provides the lenders an additional 90 days to make their election to receive the extension fee in additional debt or Cadiz common stock in exchange for extending the due date of the Company’s Senior Secured Debt from June 30, 2017 to September 28, 2017. Interest on the Senior Secured Debt will continue to accrue at 8% per annum.