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Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item
Assets	$ 648,645,000		$ 648,645,000		$ 692,502,000
Impairment loss on real estate and water assets	16,224,000		16,224,000
Increase (Decrease) in Investments			(68,296,000)
Increased (Decrease) in Property and Equipment			61,539,000
Decline in total deferred tax assets			(20,000,000)
Water Resource and Water Storage Operations
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item
Assets	204,315,000		204,315,000		226,496,000
Increase (decrease) in other operating assets			(22,181,000)
Real Estate Operations
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item
Assets	162,344,000		162,344,000		146,897,000
Increase (decrease) in other operating assets			15,447,000
Corporate
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item
Assets	108,507,000		108,507,000		125,789,000
Increase (decrease) in other operating assets			(17,282,000)
Insurance Operations in Run Off
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item
Assets	87,518,000		87,518,000		114,872,000
Increase (decrease) in other operating assets			(27,354,000)
Agribusiness Operations
Segment Reporting, Asset Reconciling Item
Assets	$ 85,961,000		$ 85,961,000		$ 78,448,000