Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Operating Activities
Net income	$ 4,283	$ 15,781	$ 3,959
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	4,954	3,629	2,119
Amortization of premium/discount of marketable securities	874	641	198
Equity in earnings	(2,535)	(916)	(541)
Non-cash retirement plan expense	1,047	528	800
Gain on sale of real estate	(676)	(4,058)	(559)
Gain on sale of easements	0	(15,750)	0
Deferred income taxes	1,810	(162)	(1,351)
Amortization of stock compensation expense (reversal)	5,440	5,340	(2,944)
Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation	8	(634)	(227)
Distribution of earnings from unconsolidated joint ventures	7,200	0	1,440
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Receivables, inventories and other assets, net	(1,761)	2,570	(56)
Current liabilities, net	(6,552)	2,515	361
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities	14,092	9,484	3,199
Investing Activities
Maturities and sales of marketable securities	19,809	19,143	15,720
Funds invested in marketable securities	(16,984)	(39,448)	(34,751)
Property and equipment expenditures	(20,669)	(13,649)	(14,196)
Reimbursement proceeds Kern County - Laval Interchange	0	0	1,613
Reimbursement proceeds from Communities Facilities District	0	0	10,860
Proceeds from sale of real estate	0	4,988	604
Proceeds from sale of easements	0	15,750	0
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(6,154)	(4,457)	(4,594)
Distribution of equity from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,512	0	4,100
Investments in long-term water assets	(797)	0	(11,981)
Other	10	(495)	(943)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	(23,273)	(18,168)	(33,568)
Financing Activitites
Borrowings of short-term debt	1,500	0	(16,400)
Repayments of short-term debt	(1,500)	0	6,850
Repayments of long-term debt	(39)	(35)	(33)
Net proceeds from rights offering	0	0	59,760
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	370	5,876	1,999
Taxes on vested stock grants	(2,303)	(812)	(463)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	(1,972)	5,029	51,713
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(11,153)	(3,655)	21,344
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	18,372	22,027	683
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year	7,219	18,372	22,027
Supplemental cash flow information
Accrued capital expenditures included in current liabilities	2,293	590	0
Sale of assets accounted as direct finance leases	913	0	0
Taxes paid (net of refunds)	$ 4,021	$ 5,002	$ 875