United States
Securities and   Exchange   Commission

Washington, D. C. 20549
 
FORM 10-Q
 
(Mark One)
 
[√]  Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2012
 
OR
 
[  ]  Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
for the transition period from ..... to .....
 
Commission File Number 0-12114

Cadiz   Inc.

( Exact name of registrant specified in its charter)

DELAWARE
77-0313235
(State or other jurisdiction of
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
Identification No.)

550 South Hope Street, Suite 2850
 
Los Angeles, California
90071
(Address of principal executive offices)
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:   (213) 271-1600

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes   √   No       
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes   √   No       

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer" and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ___   Accelerated filer    √      Non-accelerated filer ___   Smaller Reporting Company ___

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).
Yes___ No    √  

As of May 4, 2012, the Registrant had 15,438,961 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, outstanding.


 
 
 
 
 
Cadiz Inc.
 Index

For the Three Months ended March 31, 2012
Page
   
PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
   
ITEM 1.  Financial Statements
 
   
Cadiz Inc. Consolidated Financial Statements
 
   
1
   
2
   
3
   
4
   
5
   
15 
   
27
   
27
   
28

i
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cadiz Inc.
  Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
   
For the Three Months
 
   
Ended March 31,
 
($ in thousands except per share data)
 
2012
   
2011
 
       
Revenues
  $ 31     $ 457  
                 
Costs and expenses:
               
Cost of sales
    -       432  
General and administrative
    2,823       2,965  
Depreciation
    93       89  
Total costs and expenses
    2,916       3,486  
                 
Operating loss
    (2,885 )     (3,029 )
                 
Interest expense, net
    (1,560 )     (1,343 )
Other income, net
    -       121  
                 
Loss before income taxes
    (4,445 )     (4,251 )
Income tax provision
    3       2  
                 
Net loss applicable to common stock
  $ (4,448 )   $ (4,253 )
                 
Basic and diluted net loss per common share
  $ (0.29 )   $ (0.31 )
                 
Basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
    15,436       13,808  

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
1
 
 
 
 
Cadiz Inc.
 
Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)
   
March 31,
   
December 31,
($ in thousands)
 
2012
   
2011
           
ASSETS
         
           
Current assets:
         
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 6,861     $ 11,370  
Accounts receivable
    137       139  
Prepaid expenses and other
    1,780       604  
                 
Total current assets
    8,778       12,113  
                 
Property, plant, equipment and water programs, net
    42,458       41,886  
Goodwill
    3,813       3,813  
Other assets
    384       186  
                 
Total Assets
  $ 55,433     $ 57,998  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
                 
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable
  $ 855     $ 1,069  
Accrued liabilities
    1,406       1,049  
Tax liability
    321       321  
Current portion of long term debt
    -       4  
                 
Total current liabilities
    2,582       2,443  
                 
Long-term debt, net
    53,572       52,032  
Deferred revenue
    728       670  
Other long-term liabilities
    923       923  
                 
Total Liabilities
    57,805       56,068  
                 
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common stock - $.01 par value; 70,000,000 shares
               
     authorized; shares issued and outstanding – 15,438,961 at
               
     March 31, 2012 and 15,429,541 at December 31, 2011
    154       154  
Additional paid-in capital
    300,309       300,163  
Accumulated deficit
    (302,835 )     (298,387
Total stockholders’ (deficit) equity
    (2,372 )     1,930  
                 
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ equity
  $ 55,433     $ 57,998  

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
2
 
 

 
Cadiz Inc.
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
 
   
For the Three Months
 
   
Ended March 31,
 
($ in thousands except per share data)
 
2012
   
2011
 
             
Cash flows from operating activities:
           
Net loss
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
  $ (4,448 )    $ (4,253 )
net cash used for operating activities:
               
Depreciation
    93       89  
Amortization of debt discount & issuance costs
    701       574  
Interest expense added to loan principal
    860       771  
Unrealized gain on derivative liability
    -       (121 )
Compensation charge for stock and share options
    159       1,226  
        Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Decrease in accounts receivable
    2       96  
Increase in prepaid expenses and other
    (1,176 )     (339 )
Decrease (increase) in other assets
    9       (115 )
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable
    (622 )     497  
Increase (decrease) in accrued liabilities
    174       (411 )
Increase in deferred revenue
    228       -  
 
Net cash used for operating activities
    (4,020 )     (1,986 )
                 
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Additions to property, plant and equipment
    (257 )     (1,110 )
Increase in restricted cash
    (228 )     -  
                 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (485 )     (1,110 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Principal payments on long-term debt
    (4 )     (4 )
                 
Net cash provided used in financing activities
    (4 )     (4 )
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
    (4,509 )     (3,100 )
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period
    11,370       5,911  
                 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period
  $ 6,861     $ 2,811  

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
3
 
 
 
 
Cadiz Inc.
 
Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

( $ in thousands except per share data)
         
Additional
         
Total
 
   
Common Stock
   
Paid-in
   
Accumulated
   
Stockholders’
 
   
Shares
   
Amount
   
Capital
   
Deficit
   
Equity (Deficit)
 
 
                             
Balance as of December 31, 2011
    15,429,541     $ 154     $ 300,163     $ (298,387 )   $ 1,930  
                                         
Stock awards
    9,420       -       -       -       -  
                                         
Stock based compensation expense
    -       -       146       -       146  
                                         
Net loss
    -       -       -       (4,448 )     (4,448 )
                                         
Balance as of  March 31, 2012
    15,438,961     $ 154     $ 300,309     $ (302,835 )   $ (2,372 )

See accompanying notes to the consolidated financial statements.
 
4
 
 

 
Cadiz Inc.
 
Notes To The Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1 – DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
     The Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared by Cadiz Inc., sometimes referred to as “Cadiz” or “the Company”, without audit and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

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 the Company 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. This quarterly report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.  The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2012, are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal year ending December 31, 2012.

Liquidity
 
     The 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 $4.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and $4.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  The Company had working capital of $6.2 million at March 31, 2012, and used cash in operations of $4.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  The first quarter cash requirements primarily reflect the timing of certain administrative costs related to our water development efforts and due diligence costs associated with exploring the feasibility of converting the natural gas lines we have optioned to water transportation facilities.  Further, $1.0 million in cash payments related to the extension of an option agreement with El Paso Natural Gas.  Currently, the Company’s sole focus is the development of its land and water assets.
 
     Based upon the Company’s current and anticipated usage of cash resources, it will require additional working capital commencing during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 to meet its cash resource needs from that point forward and to continue to finance its operations until such time as its asset development programs produce revenues.  If the Company is unable to generate cash from its current development activities, then it will need to seek additional debt or equity financing in the capital markets.
 
5
 
 
     In June 2006, the Company raised $36.4 million through the private placement of a five year zero coupon convertible term loan with Peloton Partners LLP (“Peloton”), as administrative agent, and an affiliate of Peloton and another investor, as lenders (the “Term Loan”).  The proceeds of the new term loan were partially used to repay the Company’s prior term loan facility with ING Capital LLC (“ING”).  On April 16, 2008, the Company was advised that Peloton’s interest in the Term Loan had been assigned to an affiliate of Lampe, Conway & Company LLC (“Lampe Conway”), and Lampe Conway subsequently replaced Peloton as administrative agent of the loan.  On June 4, 2009, the Company completed arrangements to amend the Term Loan and extend its maturity to June of 2013.
 
     On October 19, 2010, the Company closed a new $10 million working capital facility with the same existing lenders.  A total of $7 million was drawn during the term of this facility.
 
     In October and November 2009, the Company raised $7.1 million with a private placement of 226,200 Units at $31.50 per Unit.  This included 20,880 Units purchased by the Lenders of the Term Loan pursuant to the Lenders’ Participation Rights under the Term Loan.  Each Unit consists of three (3) shares of the Company’s common stock and one (1) stock purchase warrant.  The warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of common stock at an exercise price of $15.00 per share.  The warrant has a term of three (3) years, but is callable by the Company at any time (following November 1, 2010), if the closing market price of the Company’s common stock exceeds $22.50 for 10 consecutive trading days.
 
     In June 2011, the Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 registering the sale of up to $50 million of the Company’s common stock in one or more public offerings.  The registration statement was declared effective on June 10, 2011.  On July 8, 2011, the Company raised $4.0 million with the sale of 363,636 shares at $11.00 per share by way of a takedown from this shelf registration.  The proceeds were used to replace the unutilized portion of its working capital facility and for general corporate purposes.
 
     On November 30, 2011, the Company raised $6 million in a private placement of 666,667 shares of Common Stock at a price of $9 per share.  For every three (3) shares of Common Stock issued, the Company issued (1) Common Stock purchase warrant (collectively, the “Warrants”) entitling the holder to purchase, commencing 90 days from the date of the issuance and prior to December 8, 2014, one (1) share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $13 per share.  These shares were registered through the Company's prospectus filing on March 28, 2012.
 
     On December 14, 2011, the Company sold 570,000 shares of Common Stock from its existing shelf registration at a price of $9 per share for total proceeds of $5.1 million.
 
     The Company’s current resources do not provide the capital necessary to fund its implementation of the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project (“Water Project”) should the Company be required to do so.  There is no assurance that additional financing (public or private) will be available on acceptable terms or at all.
 
     If the Company issues additional equity or equity linked securities to raise funds, the ownership percentage of the Company’s existing stockholders would be reduced.  New investors may demand rights, preferences or privileges senior to those of existing holders of common stock.  If the Company cannot raise needed funds, it might be forced to make substantial reductions in its operating expenses, which could adversely affect its ability to implement its current business plan and ultimately its viability as a company.
 
6
 
 
Principles of Consolidation
 
     In December 2003, the Company transferred substantially all of its assets (with the exception of certain office furniture and equipment and any Sun World related assets) to Cadiz Real Estate LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Cadiz Real Estate”).  The Company holds 100% of the equity interests of Cadiz Real Estate, and therefore, continues to hold 100% beneficial ownership of the properties that it transferred to Cadiz Real Estate.  Because the transfer of the Company’s properties to Cadiz Real Estate has no effect on its ultimate beneficial ownership of these properties, the properties owned of record either by Cadiz Real Estate or by the Company are treated as belonging to the Company.  Cadiz Real Estate is consolidated in these financial statements.

Cash and Cash Equivalents
 
     The Company considers all short-term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.  The Company invests its excess cash in deposits with major international banks, government agency notes and short-term commercial paper, and therefore, bears minimal risk.  Such investments are stated at cost, which approximates fair value, and are considered cash equivalents for purposes of reporting cash flows.

Short-Term Investments
 
     The Company considers all short-term deposits with an original maturity greater than three months, but no greater than one year, to be short-term investments.  The Company had no short-term investments at March 31, 2012, or December 31, 2011.

Supplemental Cash Flow Information
 
     No cash payments, including interest, are due on the loan with Lampe Conway prior to the June 29, 2013, final maturity date.
 
     The Company recorded non-cash additions to fixed assets of $1,827,000 at March 31, 2012 and $1,826,000 at December 31, 2011, which were accrued at the respective period ends, for the costs directly attributable to the development of the Water Project.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Fair value measurements and disclosures
 
     Effective January 1, 2012, we adopted an update to the accounting rules for fair value measurement.  The new accounting principal establishes a consistent definition of fair value in an effort to ensure that the fair value measurement and disclosure requirements between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") are comparable. This update changes certain fair value measurement principles and enhances the disclosure requirements for fair value measurements. This update does not extend the use of fair value accounting, but provides guidance on how it should be applied where its use was already required or permitted by other standards within U.S. GAAP or IFRS. This update is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011 and is applied prospectively. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures.
 
7
 
 
Statement of comprehensive income
 
     Effective January 1, 2012, we adopted the FASB issued authoritative guidance on the presentation of comprehensive income. This update requires that all non-owner changes in stockholders' equity be presented either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. This update does not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income. The adoption of this pronouncement did not have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying disclosures.

Goodwill impairment
 
     Effective January 1, 2012, the Company adopted an update to the authoritative guidance related to goodwill impairment testing. This update gives companies the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount before performing the two-step test mandated prior to the update. If, after assessing the totality of events and circumstances, a company determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, then it must perform the two-step test. Otherwise, a company may skip the two-step test. Companies are not required to perform the qualitative assessment and may, instead proceed directly to the first step of the two-part test. The adoption of this update guidance did not have a material impact on the Company’s Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


NOTE 2 - PROPERTY, PLANT, EQUIPMENT AND WATER PROGRAMS
 
     Property, plant, equipment and water programs consist of the following (in thousands):

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
 
   
2012
   
2011
 
             
Land and land improvements
  $ 24,192     $ 24,188  
Water programs
    19,576       18,914  
Buildings
    1,187       1,187  
Leasehold improvements
    570       570  
Furniture and fixtures
    458       458  
Machinery and equipment
    997       997  
Construction in progress
    103       103  
      47,083       46,417  
                 
Less accumulated depreciation
    (4,625 )     (4,531 )
                 
    $ 42,458     $ 41,886  
 
 
8
 
 
     Depreciation expense totaled $93,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and $89,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2011.


NOTE 3 – LONG-TERM DEBT
 
     The carrying value of the Company's debt, before discount, approximates fair value.  The fair value of the Company's debt (Level 2) is determined based on an estimation of discounted future cash flows of the debt at rates currently quoted or offered to the Company for similar debt instruments of comparable maturities by its lenders.
 
     At March 31, 2012, and December 31, 2011, the carrying amount of the Company’s outstanding debt is summarized as follows (in thousands):

   
March 31,
   
December 31,
   
2012
   
2011
           
Zero coupon secured convertible term loan due June 29, 2013.
Interest accruing at 5% per annum until June 29, 2009 and at 6%
thereafter
  $ 57,533     $ 56,673  
Other loans
    -       4  
Debt discount, net of accumulated accretion
    (3,961 )     (4,641
      53,572       52,036  
                 
Less current portion
    -       4  
                 
    $ 53,572     $ 52,032  

Pursuant to the Company’s loan agreements, annual maturities of long-term debt outstanding on March 31, 2012, are as follows:

12 Months
Ending March 31,
 
(in thousands)
 
       
2013
    -  
2014
    57,533  
2015
    -  
    $ 57,533  
 
     In June 2006, the Company entered into a $36.4 million five year zero coupon senior secured convertible term loan with Peloton Partners LLP (through an affiliate) (“Peloton”) and another lender (the “Term Loan”).  On April 16, 2008, the Company was advised that Peloton had assigned its interest in the Term Loan to an affiliate of Lampe Conway & Company LLC (“Lampe Conway”), and Lampe Conway subsequently replaced Peloton as administrative agent of the loan.  On June 4, 2009, the Company completed arrangements to amend the Term Loan with Lampe Conway which modified certain of the conversion features and extended the maturity date to June 29, 2013 with interest continuing to accrue at 6% per annum through maturity.  Further, the conversion feature was modified to allow up to $4.55 million of principal to be converted into 650,000 shares of the Company’s Common Stock (“Common Stock”) at a conversion price of $7 per share, and the remaining principal and interest to be converted into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price of $35 per share.
 
9
 
 
     On October 19, 2010, the Company closed a new $10 million working capital facility with Lampe Conway and other participating lenders (“the Lenders”).  Under the terms of the new $10 million facility, the Company drew the first $5 million at closing (“First Tranche”).  Also upon closing, the Company was granted the option to draw up to an additional $5 million over the subsequent 12 months (“Second Tranche”).  The Company drew a total of $2 million on the Second Tranche prior to its expiration.  All interest on outstanding balances accrue at 6%, with no principal or interest payments required before the new facility’s June 29, 2013 maturity date, consistent with the Company’s existing term debt facility.  
 
     The First Tranche (including accrued interest) is convertible at any time into the Company’s common stock at a price of $13.50 per share and the Second Tranche (including accrued interest) is convertible into the Company’s common stock at $12.50 per share.
 
     Also on October 19, 2010, the Company’s existing debt facility with the Lenders was modified as to certain of its conversion features.  $20.62 million of the existing convertible debt was changed to allow for up to $2.5 million of this amount to be converted at any time into the Company’s common stock at the price of $13.50 per share, with the remaining amount becoming non-convertible.  On June 30, 2011, $2 million of the $5 million available Second Tranche was drawn.  As a result of the Second Tranche draw, $4 million of the outstanding loan became convertible into 320,000 shares of Cadiz common stock.  Further, approximately $10 million of the loan that was previously convertible into approximately 290,000 shares of Cadiz common stock is no longer convertible.
 
     The Term Loan is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Company, and contains representations, warranties and covenants that are typical for agreements of this type, including restrictions that would limit the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make restricted payments, dispose of assets, make investments and merge or consolidate with another person.  However, while there are affirmative covenants, there are no financial maintenance covenants and no restrictions on the Company’s ability to issue additional common stock to fund future working capital needs.
 
     As a result of the modifications of the convertible debt arrangements in June 2009 and October 2010, the change in conversion value between the original and modified instrument totaling approximately $3.2 million was recorded as additional debt discount with an offsetting amount recorded as additional paid-in capital.  Such debt discount is accreted to the redemption value of the instrument over the remaining term of the loan as additional interest expense.  In connection with the modification transaction in October 2010, the Company recorded a derivative liability related to the conversion option.  The fair value of the derivative liability was marked-to-market at the end of each reporting period and recorded as other income (expense).  On July 25, 2011, the Company entered into an amendment to the facility eliminating the availability to the Company of the unused $3 million portion of the facility.  As a result, the conversion option related to the unused portion of the facility no longer exists and a derivative liability is no longer being recorded.
 
10
 
 
NOTE 4 – COMMON STOCK
 
     In October 2007, the Company agreed to the conditional issuance of up to 300,000 shares to the former sole shareholder and successor in interest to Exploration Research Associates, Inc. (“ERA”), who is now an employee of the Company.  The agreement settled certain claims by ERA against the Company and provided that the 300,000 shares will be issued if and when certain significant milestones in the development of the Company’s properties are achieved.
 
     In November 2008, the Company entered into an agreement with the law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP to provide legal and advisory services.  The primary services being provided are advising the Company as to the Water Project design and implementation, permit approvals, environmental compliance, negotiation and drafting of agreements related to the Water Project.  The agreement provides for interim payments due upon completion of specified milestones with respect to the Water Project, with the fee payable in cash and/or stock.  The first such milestone was satisfied on June 4, 2009, resulting in an obligation by the Company to pay a fee of $500,000, for which the parties agreed to payment in the form of 59,312 shares of the Company’s common stock valued at $8.43 per share, reflecting the fair market value of the stock on June 4, 2009.


NOTE 5 – STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS AND WARRANTS
 
     The Company has issued options and has granted stock awards pursuant to its 2003 Management Equity Incentive Plan, 2007 Management Equity Incentive Plan, and 2009 Equity Incentive Plan.  The Company has also granted stock awards pursuant to its Outside Director Compensation Plan.
 
2003 Management Equity Incentive Plan
 
     In December 2003, concurrently with the completion of the Company’s then current financing arrangements with ING, the Company’s board of directors authorized the adoption of a Management Equity Incentive Plan.  As of March 31, 2012, a total of 315,000 common stock options remain outstanding under this plan.
 
Outside Director Compensation Plan
 
     The Cadiz Inc. Outside Director Compensation Plan was approved by Cadiz shareholders in November 2006.  Under the plan, each outside director receives $30,000 of cash compensation and receives a deferred stock award consisting of shares of the Company’s common stock with a value equal to $20,000 on June 30th of each year.  The award accrues on a quarterly basis, with $7,500 of cash compensation and $5,000 of stock earned for each fiscal quarter in which a director serves.  The deferred stock award vests automatically on the January 31 st which first follows the award date.
 
11
 
 
2007 Management Equity Incentive Plan
 
     The 2007 Management Equity Incentive Plan was approved by stockholders at the 2007 Annual Meeting.  As of March 31, 2012, a total of 10,000 common stock options remain outstanding under this plan.

2009 Equity Incentive Plan
 
     The 2009 Equity Incentive Plan was approved by stockholders at the 2009 Annual Meeting.  The plan provides for the grant and issuance of up to 850,000 shares and options to the Company’s employees and consultants.  The plan became effective when the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-8 on December 18, 2009.  All options issued under the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan have a ten year term with vesting periods ranging from issuance date to 24 months.  To date, 537,500 common stock purchase options have been issued under this plan and all remained outstanding as of March 31, 2012.
 
     All options that have been issued under the above plans have been issued to officers, employees and consultants of the Company.  In total, options to purchase 862,500 shares were unexercised and outstanding on March 31, 2012, under the three equity incentive plans.
 
     The Company recognized stock option related compensation costs of $134,000 and $179,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  On March 31, 2012, there was $213,000 of unamortized compensation expense relating to option awards.  This unamortized compensation expense is expected to be recognized through December 2013.  No options were exercised during the three months ended March 31, 2012.

Stock Awards to Directors, Officers, and Consultants
 
     The Company has granted stock awards pursuant to its 2007 Management Equity Incentive Plan, 2009 Equity Incentive Plan and Outside Director Compensation Plan.
 
     250,000 shares were issued under the 2007 Management Equity Incentive Plan.  A 150,000 share award was issued that vested in three equal installments on January 1, 2008, January 1, 2009, and January 1, 2010.  Of the remaining 100,000 shares reserved under the 2007 Management Equity Incentive Plan, 10,000 were issued as options as described above, and 90,000 were issued as shares that vested in May 2009 consistent with the terms of the agreements pursuant to which those executives provide services to the Company.
 
     Of the total 850,000 shares reserved under the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, a grant of 115,000 restricted shares of common stock became effective on January 14, 2010, and a grant of 140,000 restricted shares of common stock became effective on January 10, 2011, consistent with the terms of the agreements pursuant to which those executives provide services to the Company and which contemplate that such executives will participate in the Company’s long-term incentive plans.  The recipients of these restricted shares have a contractual agreement not to sell any of these shares for a period of three years following the effective date.  Of the remaining 595,000 shares reserved under the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan, 8,987 shares of common stock were issued to directors, 537,500 were issued as options as described above and 48,513 are available for future distribution as of March 31, 2012.
 
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     Under the Outside Director Compensation Plan, 58,987 shares have been awarded for the plan years ended June 30, 2006, through June 30, 2011.  Of the 58,987 shares awarded, 11,304 shares awarded for services during the plan year ended June 30, 2011, became effective on that date and vested on January 31, 2012.
 
     The Company recognized stock based compensation costs related to stock based awards of $25,000 and $1,048,000 in the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.

Stock Purchase Warrants Issued to Non-Employees
 
     The Company accounts for equity securities issued to non-employees in accordance with the provisions of ASC 718 and ASC 505.
 
     In October and November 2009, the Company raised $7.1 million with a private placement of 226,200 Units at $31.50 per Unit.  This includes 20,880 Units purchased by the Lenders of the Term Loan pursuant to the Lenders’ Participation Rights under the Term Loan.  Each Unit consists of three (3) shares of the Company’s common stock and one (1) stock purchase warrant.  The warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) share of common stock at an exercise price of $15.00 per share.  The warrant has a term of three (3) years, but is callable by the Company at any time following November 1, 2010, if the closing market price of the Company’s common stock exceeds $22.50 for 10 consecutive trading days.
 
     On November 30, 2011, the Company raised $6 million in a private placement of 666,667 shares of Common Stock at a price of $9 per share.  For every three (3) shares of Common Stock issued, the Company issued (1) Common Stock purchase warrant (collectively, the “Warrants”) entitling the holder to purchase, commencing 90 days from the date of the issuance and prior to December 8, 2014, one (1) share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $13 per share.
 
     448,423 warrants remain outstanding as of March 31, 2012.


NOTE 6 – INCOME TAXES
 
     As of March 31, 2012, the Company had net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards of approximately $116 million for federal income tax purposes and $78 million for California state income tax purposes.  Such carryforwards expire in varying amounts through the year 2032.  Use of the carryforward amounts is subject to an annual limitation as a result of ownership changes.
 
     In addition, on August 26, 2005, a Settlement Agreement between Cadiz, on one hand, and Sun World and three of Sun World’s subsidiaries, on the other hand, was approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, concurrently with the Court’s confirmation of the amended Plan.  The Settlement Agreement provides that following the September 6, 2005, effective date of Sun World’s plan of reorganization, Cadiz will retain the right to utilize the Sun World net operating loss carryovers (“NOLs”).  Sun World’s Federal NOLs are estimated to be approximately $58 million.
 
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     As of March 31, 2012, the Company possessed unrecognized tax benefits totaling approximately $3.3 million.  None of these, if recognized, would affect the Company's effective tax rate because the Company has recorded a full valuation allowance against these assets.  Additionally, as of that date the Company had accrued approximately $321,000 for state taxes, interest and penalties related to income tax positions in prior returns.  Income tax penalties and interest are classified as general and administrative expenses.  The Company was not subject to any income tax penalties and interest during the three months ended March 31, 2012.
 
     The Company expects that the unrecognized tax benefits will decrease in the next 12 months by approximately $300,000 as a result of the expiration of statutes of limitation on December 31, 2012.
 
     The Company's completed tax years 2008 through 2011 remain subject to examination by the Internal Revenue Service, and tax years 2007 through 2011 remain subject to examination by California tax jurisdictions.  In addition, the Company's loss carryforward amounts are generally subject to examination and adjustment for a period of three years for federal tax purposes and four years for California purposes, beginning when such carryovers are utilized to reduce taxes in a future tax year.
 
     Because it is more likely than not that the Company will not realize its net deferred tax assets, it has recorded a full valuation allowance against these assets.  Accordingly, no deferred tax asset has been reflected in the accompanying balance sheet.


NOTE 7 – NET LOSS PER COMMON SHARE
 
     Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing the net loss by the weighted-average common shares outstanding.  Options, deferred stock units, warrants and the zero coupon term loan convertible into or exercisable for certain shares of the Company’s common stock were not considered in the computation of diluted EPS because their inclusion would have been antidilutive.  Had these instruments been included, the fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding would have increased by approximately 2,931,000 and 2,410,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
 
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Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

In connection with the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, the following discussion contains trend analysis and other forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "projects", "forecasts", "expects", "plans" and "proposes".  Although we believe that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, there are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements.  These include, among others, our ability to maximize value from our Cadiz, California land and water resources; and our ability to obtain new financings as needed to meet our ongoing working capital needs.  See additional discussion under the heading “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.

Overview
 
     Our primary asset consists of 45,000 acres of land in three areas of eastern San Bernardino County, California.  Virtually all of this land is underlain by high-quality, naturally recharging groundwater resources, and is situated in proximity to the Colorado River and the Colorado River Aqueduct (“CRA”), the major source of imported water for Southern California.  Our main objective is to realize the highest and best use of these land and water resources in an environmentally responsible way.
 
     For more than 20 years, we have maintained an agricultural development at our property in the Cadiz Valley, relying upon groundwater from the underlying aquifer system for irrigation.  In 1993, we secured permits for agricultural production on up to 9,600 acres of the 34,000-acre Cadiz Valley property and the withdrawal of more than one million acre-feet of groundwater from the underlying aquifer system.  Since that time, we have maintained various levels of agricultural development at the property and this development has provided our principal source of revenue.  Although sustainable agricultural development is an important and enduring component of our business, we believe that the long-term value of our assets can best be derived through the development of a combination of water supply and storage projects at our properties.
 
     The primary factors that drive the value of water supply and storage projects are continued population growth and sustained pressure on water supplies throughout California, including environmental restrictions and regulatory shortages on each of the State’s three primary water sources:  the State Water Project, the Colorado River and the Los Angeles Aqueduct.  Southern California’s water providers rely on these imported sources for a majority of their water supplies.  Availability of supplies in California also differs greatly from year to year due to natural hydrological variability.  For example, an historic drought from 2007 – 2009 was followed by above-average rainfall in 2010 and an average year in 2011.  Thus far, 2012 is on track to be another average year and State Water Project deliveries will be limited to just 60% of capacity.  With the region’s population expected to continue to expand, Southern California water providers are presently seeking new, reliable supply solutions to account for anticipated fluctuations in traditional supplies and to plan for long-term water needs.
 
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     At present, our development efforts are primarily focused on the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project (“Water Project” or “Project”), which proposes to capture and conserve millions of acre-feet of native groundwater currently being lost to evaporation from the aquifer system beneath our Cadiz Valley property and deliver it to water providers throughout Southern California (see “Water Resource Development”) .   We believe that the ultimate implementation of this Water Project will create the primary source of our future cash flow and, accordingly, our working capital requirements relate largely to the development activities associated with this Water Project.
 
     Additionally, we are currently exploring opportunities to enter the water transportation market, and have entered into two separate option agreements that, if exercised, would allow us to purchase a total of approximately 300 miles of existing, idle underground natural gas pipelines in Southern California for conversion to water transmission (see “Other Development Opportunities”).  Initial feasibility studies indicate that the lines have excellent potential to be utilized by the Water Project and/or to move water into other areas of the region that currently lack access to water transportation infrastructure.
 
     Further, we continue to explore additional uses of our land and water resource assets, including siting solar energy and the development of a mitigation bank.  We plan to continue our current development efforts and also pursue strategic investments in complementary business or infrastructure to meet our objectives.  We cannot predict with certainty when or if these objectives will be realized.

Water Resource Development
 
     The Water Project is designed to supply, capture and conserve billions of gallons of renewable native groundwater currently being lost annually to evaporation from the aquifer system underlying our Cadiz/Fenner Property and provide a reliable water supply to water users in Southern California.  By implementing established groundwater management practices, the Water Project will create a new, sustainable water supply for Project participants without adversely impacting the aquifer system or the desert environment.  The total quantity of groundwater to be recovered and conveyed to Project participants will not exceed a long-term annual average of 50,000 acre-feet per year.  The Project also offers participants the ability to carry-over their annual supply, and store it in the groundwater basin from year to year, as well as approximately one million acre-feet of storage capacity that can be used to store imported water.
 
     Water Project facilities would include, among other things:

·  
High yield wells designed to efficiently recover available native groundwater from beneath the Water Project area;

·  
A 43-mile conveyance pipeline to connect the well field to the CRA;

·  
A pumping plant to pump water through the conveyance pipeline from the CRA to the Project well-field, if an imported water storage component of the project is ultimately implemented;
 
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·  
An energy source to provide power to the well-field, pipeline and pumping plant; and

·  
Spreading basins, which are shallow settling ponds that will be configured to efficiently percolate water from the ground surface down to the water table using subsurface storage capacity for the storage of water, if an imported water storage component of the project is ultimately implemented.
 
     In general, several elements are needed to implement such a project: (1) a water conveyance right-of-way or pipeline from the Water Project area to a delivery system; (2) storage and supply agreements with one or more public water agencies or private water utilities; (3) environmental permits; and (4) construction and working capital financing.  As described below, the first three elements have been progressed on a concurrent basis.  The fourth is dependent on actions arising from the completion of the first three.

(1)  
 A Water Conveyance Right-of-Way or Pipeline from the Water Project Area to a Delivery System
 
     In September 2008, we secured a right-of-way for the Water Project’s water conveyance pipeline by entering into a lease agreement with the Arizona & California Railroad Company (“ARZC”).  The agreement allows for the use of a portion of the railroad’s right-of-way to construct and operate a water conveyance pipeline for a period up to 99 years.  The pipeline would be used to convey water between our Cadiz Valley property and the CRA.  As part of the lease agreement, the ARZC would also receive water from the Project for fire suppression and other railroad purposes.
 
     The Company is also exploring the potential to utilize one of the unused natural gas pipelines (as described in “Overview” above) that exist in the Project area, and as to which we hold an option right, as a means to access additional distribution systems. Initial feasibility studies indicate that this line could be used as a component of the Project to distribute water to Project participants in Phase I or import water from the California Aqueduct for storage at the Project area in Phase II.  The potential use of this line by the Project is being analyzed as part of the Project’s California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) process (see “Other Development Opportunities”).

(2)  
Storage and Supply Agreements with One or More Public Water Agencies or Private Water   Utilities
 
     In June 2010, we entered into option and environmental cost sharing agreements with three water providers: Santa Margarita Water District (“SMWD”), Golden State Water Company (a wholly-owned subsidiary of American States Water [NYSE: AWR]), and Three Valleys Municipal Water District.  The three water providers serve more than one million customers in cities throughout California’s San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura Counties.
 
     In September 2010, we entered into an option and environmental cost sharing agreement with Suburban Water Systems, a wholly-owned subsidiary of SouthWest Water Company.  Suburban Water Systems provides water to a population of approximately 300,000 people in a 42-square-mile service area across California's Los Angeles and Orange counties.
 
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     In 2011, we entered into similar agreements with Jurupa Community Services District (“JCSD”) and California Water Service Company (“Cal Water”).  JCSD provides water and sewer services in a 48-square mile service area located in an unincorporated portion of western Riverside County, California.  Cal Water, the third largest investor-owned American water utility, distributes and sells water to 1.7 million Californians through 435,000 connections in communities from Chico in Northern California to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in Southern California.
 
     Under the terms of the agreements with the six water providers, upon completion of the Water Project’s CEQA review, each agency will have the right to acquire an annual supply of 5,000 acre-feet of water at a pre-determined formula competitive with their incremental cost of new water.  SMWD also was given the option to purchase an additional 10,000 acre-feet of water per year.  In addition, the agencies have options to acquire storage rights in the Water Project to allow them to manage their supplies to complement their other water resources.
 
     Approximately 80% of the water to be conserved annually by the Project is now under option.  We continue to work with additional water providers interested in acquiring rights to the remaining available Project supplies and are in discussions with third parties regarding the imported storage aspect of this Project.

(3)  
Environmental Permits
 
     In order to properly develop and quantify the sustainability of the Water Project, and prior to initiating the formal permitting process for the Water Project, we commissioned internationally recognized environmental consulting firm CH2M HILL to complete a comprehensive study of the water resources at the Project area.  Following a year of analysis, CH2M HILL released its study of the aquifer system in February 2010. Utilizing new models produced by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2006 and 2008, the study estimated the total groundwater in storage in the aquifer system to be between 17 and 34 million acre-feet, a quantity on par with Lake Mead, the nation’s largest surface reservoir.  The study also identified a renewable annual supply of native groundwater in the aquifer system currently being lost to evaporation. CH2M HILL’s findings, which were peer reviewed by leading groundwater experts, confirmed that the aquifer system could sustainably support the Water Project.
 
     Further, and also prior to beginning the formal environmental permitting process, we entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Natural Heritage Institute (“NHI”), a leading global environmental organization committed to protecting aquatic ecosystems, to assist with our efforts to sustainably manage the development of our Cadiz/Fenner Property.  As part of this “Green Compact”, we will follow stringent plans for groundwater management and habitat conservation, and create a groundwater monitoring plan for the Water Project.
 
     As discussed in (2), above, we have entered into environmental cost sharing agreements with all participating water providers. The environmental cost sharing agreements created a framework for funds to be committed by each participant to share in the costs associated with the CEQA review work.  SMWD is serving as the lead agency for the review process.  ESA Associates, a leading environmental consulting firm, has been retained to prepare the Water Project’s environmental review documentation. 
 
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     A Notice of Preparation (“NOP”) of a Draft Environmental Impact Report (“Draft EIR”) formally commencing the public portion of the CEQA process was issued in February 2011 by SMWD.  Two public scoping meetings were held in March 2011.  SMWD released the Draft EIR on December 5, 2011, and conducted a 100-day public comment period, which concluded on March 14, 2012.  As part of the comment period, SMWD hosted two public comment meetings and an informational workshop in January and February 2012. 
 
     The Draft EIR is a key component of the Project’s environmental review and permitting process, and analyzes potential impacts to environmental resources at the Project area, including critical resources of the desert environment such as vegetation, mountain springs, and water and air quality.  The Draft EIR considered peer-reviewed technical reports, as well as independently collected data, existing reports and a new state of the art Groundwater Management, Monitoring and Mitigation Plan (“GMMMP”) to complete its analysis of the Project.  The Draft EIR summarizes that, with the exception of unavoidable short-term construction emissions, by implementing the measures developed in the GMMMP, the Project will avoid any significant impacts to desert resources.
 
     On May 1, 2012, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a memorandum of understanding with SMWD and us to establish a framework for finalizing the GMMMP and the County’s role in enforcement of the GMMMP.  The Final Environmental Impact Report (“Final EIR”) is currently being compiled responding to public comments.  Once complete, the Final EIR will be brought to the SMWD Board of Directors for certification and Project approval.  Following the completion of all environmental requirements, construction of Project facilities would begin.
 
(4)  
Construction and Working Capital
 
     Once the environmental review is concluded, we expect that we will complete economic agreements with the Water Project participants and make arrangements for the construction phase of the Water Project.  As described above, construction would primarily consist of well-field facilities at the Water Project site, a conveyance pipeline extending approximately 43 miles along the right-of-way described in (1), above, from the well-field to the Colorado River Aqueduct (“CRA”), and an energy source to pump water through the conveyance pipeline between the Project well-field and the CRA.
 
     Should the Water Project ultimately include the use of an existing natural gas pipeline as to which we hold option rights, then we will also incur costs associated with the exercise of this option and the conversion of the pipeline (see “Other Development Opportunities, below).
 
Agricultural Development
 
     Within the Cadiz Valley property, 9,600 acres have been zoned for agriculture.  The infrastructure includes seven wells that are interconnected within this acreage, with total annual production capacity of approximately 13,000 acre-feet of water.  Additionally, there are housing and kitchen facilities that support up to 300 employees. The underlying groundwater, fertile soil, and desert temperatures are well suited for a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
 
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     Permanent crops currently in commercial production include 160 acres of vineyards of certified-organic, dried-on-the-vine raisins and 260 acres of lemons.  Both of these crops are farmed using sustainable agricultural practices.
 
     We currently derive our agricultural revenues through the sale of our products in bulk or through independent packing facilities.  We incur all of the costs necessary to produce and harvest our organic raisin crop.  These raisins are then sold in bulk to a raisin processing facility.  We also incur all of the costs necessary to produce our lemon crop.  Once harvested, the lemons are shipped in bulk to a packing and sales facility.
 
     In 2009, we entered into a lease agreement with a third party to develop up to an additional 500 acres of lemon orchards, 180 acres of which have been planted to date.  We expect to receive lease income once the new lemon orchards reach commercial production through a profit sharing agreement within the lease.
 
     Although we plan to maintain our agricultural development, revenues will continue to vary from year to year based on acres in development, crop yields, and prices.  Further, we do not believe that our agricultural revenues are likely to be material to our overall results of operations once we begin to receive revenues from the Water Project.

Other Development Opportunities
 
Water Transportation
 
     As described above (see “Overview”), we are currently evaluating the feasibility of converting existing idle natural gas pipelines for the transportation of water, either exclusively for the distribution of third party water or, in certain segments, in conjunction with the Water Project. In September 2011, we entered into two separate agreements with El Paso Natural Gas (“EPNG”) and Questar Corporation (“Questar”) providing us with options to purchase two separate underground natural gas pipelines.  In February 2012, we made a $1,000,000 payment to extend our option agreement with EPNG to April 2013. The second option agreement with Questar provides option terms expiring in December 2012.  If both purchase options are exercised they would require payments totaling $50 million.  Initial feasibility studies indicate that, upon conversion, the two pipelines would have a combined average capacity to distribute up to 40,000 acre-feet of water per year per segment in markets that currently lack multiple pick-up and delivery water distribution segments.
 
     Currently, the vast majority of potential water transfers in Southern California are difficult to implement because of location or the lack of space available in the existing distribution system, thereby creating a demand for additional water transfer capacity.  If we are ultimately able to utilize the natural gas pipelines to provide new water transmission lines in key markets, we intend to access existing demand for water transfers and allow agencies to do so outside of the few existing systems.  Further, we believe a conversion of the pipelines for water transfer use, if feasible, will allow remote water supplies to reach the urban market and could also help link Southern California groundwater systems that have been historically inaccessible.
 
     The EPNG line, which originates near Bakersfield, California, and extends 220 miles into Cadiz, California, could potentially be used in conjunction with the Water Project.  This use is being further evaluated in the Project’s CEQA environmental documents described above (see “Water Resource Development ).
 
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Solar Energy Production
 
     In addition to the development projects described above, we believe that our landholdings are suitable for other types of development, including solar energy production.  Located in an area with strong solar irradiation, proximity to existing utility corridors, appropriate topography, and access to water supplies, our properties could provide an ideal setting for solar energy generation.  Moreover, state, federal and local government entities, along with environmental organizations, have issued compelling calls to increase the production of renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the consumption of imported fossil fuels.  Solar energy development on private land, particularly in the Mojave Desert region where our properties are located, is being encouraged as an alternative to the use of federal desert lands.
 
     We believe that our significant, contiguous private landholdings in the Mojave Desert could provide an alternative to the use of federal lands for new solar facilities in the region.  Up to 20,000 acres at our Cadiz Valley property could potentially be made available for solar energy projects.
 
Other Property Development
 
     Approximately 15,000 acres of our properties not currently being developed are located within areas designated by the federal government as Critical Desert Tortoise Habitat and/or Desert Wilderness Areas.  We are currently exploring the potential to make certain of these properties available in a mitigation bank, which provides credits that can be acquired by entities that must acquire land to mitigate or offset development in other areas.
 
     Over the longer-term, we believe the population of Southern California, Nevada and Arizona will continue to grow, and that, in time, the economics of commercial and residential development of our properties may become attractive.  Moreover, other opportunities in business or infrastructure complementary to our current objectives could provide new opportunities for our business.
 
     We remain committed to the sustainable use of our land and water assets, and will continue to explore all opportunities for environmentally-responsible development of these assets.  We cannot predict with certainty which of these various opportunities will ultimately be utilized.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended March 31, 2012, Compared to Three Months Ended March 31, 2011
 
     We have not received significant revenues from our water resource and real estate development activity to date.  As a result, we have historically incurred a net loss from operations.  We had revenues of $31 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and $457 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  We incurred a net loss of $4.4 million in the three months ended March 31, 2012, compared with a $4.3 million net loss during the three months ended March 31, 2011.
 
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     Our primary expenses are our ongoing overhead costs associated with the development of the Water Project (i.e. general and administrative expense) and our interest expense.  We will continue to incur non-cash expenses in connection with our management and director equity incentive compensation plans.
 
     Revenues    We had revenues of $31 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and $457 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  The decrease in revenue in 2012 was primarily due to a smaller and shorter 2011-2012 lemon harvest season, which was completed by December 2011, in comparison to the 2010-2011 lemon harvest year, which extended into February 2011.
 
     Cost of Sales   Cost of sales was $0 for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and $432 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  The lower cost of sales reflects the lower lemon harvesting and marketing costs due to the shorter harvest season and smaller size of the 2011-2012 lemon crop.
 
     General and Administrative Expenses   General and administrative expenses were $2.8 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012, and $3.0 million during the three months ended March 31, 2011.  Non-cash compensation costs for stock and option awards are included in General and Administrative Expenses.
 
     Compensation costs from stock and option awards for the three months ended March 31, 2012, were $159 thousand, compared with $1.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  The expense reflects the vesting schedules of the stock and option awards under the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan.  The lower 2012 expense was primarily due to lower stock based non-cash compensation costs related to stock and options issued in 2011 under the 2009 Equity Incentive Plan.
 
     Other General and Administrative Expenses, exclusive of stock based compensation costs, totaled $2.7 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  The higher 2012 expenses were primarily due to additional legal and consulting fees related to water development efforts and due diligence costs associated with the feasibility of converting the natural gas lines we have optioned to water transportation facilities (see Other Development Opportunities).
 
     Depreciation   Depreciation expense totaled $93 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2012, and $89 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2011.
 
     Interest Expense, net   Net interest expense totaled $1.6 million during the three months ended March 31, 2012 compared to $1.3 million during the same period in 2011.  The following table summarizes the components of net interest expense for the two periods (in thousands):
 
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Three Months Ended
 
March 31,
 
2012
 
2011
         
Interest on outstanding debt
  $ 860     $ 771  
Amortization of financing costs
    21       19  
Amortization of debt discount
    680       555  
Interest income
    (1 )     (2
                 
    $ 1,560     $ 1,343  
 
     See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: Note 3 – Long-term Debt.
 
     Other Income, net   Net other income for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $0 and $121 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2011.  The amount recorded in 2011 relates to the derivative liability associated with certain of the Term Loan’s conversion options.  See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements:  Note 3 – Long-term Debt.
 
     Income Taxes   Income tax expense for the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $3 thousand and $2 thousand for the three months ended March 31, 2011.   See Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements: Note 6 – Income Taxes.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Current Financing Arrangements
 
     As we have not received significant revenues from our development activities to date we have been required to obtain financing to bridge the gap between the time water resource and other development expenses are incurred, and the time that revenue will commence.  Historically, we have addressed these needs primarily through secured debt financing arrangements, private equity placements and the exercise of outstanding stock options and warrants.
 
     Based upon the Company’s current and anticipated usage of cash resources, it will require additional working capital commencing during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 to meet its cash resource needs from that point forward and to continue to finance its operations until such time as its asset development programs produce revenues.  If the Company is unable to generate cash from its current development activities, then it will need to seek additional debt or equity financing in the capital markets.
 
     We have worked with our secured lenders to structure our debt in a way which allows us to continue our development of the Water Project and minimize the dilution of the ownership interests of common stockholders.  In June 2006, we entered into a $36.4 million five year zero coupon senior secured convertible term loan with Peloton Partners LLP (through an affiliate) and another lender (the “Term Loan”).  On April 16, 2008, we were advised that Peloton had assigned its interest in the Term Loan to an affiliate of Lampe Conway & Company LLC (“Lampe Conway”), and Lampe Conway subsequently replaced Peloton as administrative agent of the loan.  On June 4, 2009, we completed arrangements to amend the Term Loan with Lampe Conway which modified certain of the conversion features and extended the maturity date to June 29, 2013 with interest continuing to accrue at 6% per annum though maturity.  Further, the conversion feature was modified to allow up to $4.55 million of principal to be converted into 650,000 shares of our Common Stock (“Common Stock”) at a conversion price of $7 per share, and the remaining principal and interest to be converted into shares of Common Stock at a conversion price of $35 per share.
 
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     On October 19, 2010, we closed a new $10 million working capital facility with Lampe Conway and our other participating lender (“the Lenders”).  Under the terms of the new $10 million facility, we drew the first $5 million at closing (“First Tranche”).  Also upon closing, we were granted the option to draw up to an additional $5 million over the subsequent 12 months (“Second Tranche”).   We drew a total of $2 million on the Second Tranche prior to its expiration.   All interest on outstanding balances accrues at 6%, with no principal or interest payments required before the new facility’s June 29, 2013 maturity date, consistent with our existing term debt facility.
 
     The First Tranche (including accrued interest) is convertible at any time Common Stock at a price of $13.50 per share, and the Second Tranche (including accrued interest) is convertible Common Stock at $12.50 per share.
 
     Also on October 19, 2010, our existing debt facility with the Lenders was modified as to certain of its conversion features.  $20.62 million of the existing convertible debt was changed to allow for up to $2.5 million of this amount to be converted at any time into Common Stock at the price of $13.50 per share, with the remaining amount becoming non-convertible. On June 30, 2011, $2 million of the $5 million available Second Tranche was drawn.   As a result of the Second Tranche draw, $4 million of the outstanding loan became convertible into 320,000 shares of Common Stock.  Further, approximately $10 million of the loan that was previously convertible into approximately 290,000 shares of Cadiz common stock is no longer convertible.
 
     The Term Loan is collateralized by substantially all of the assets of the Company, and contains representations, warranties and covenants that are typical for agreements of this type, including restrictions that would limit our ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, pay dividends or make restricted payments, dispose of assets, make investments and merge or consolidate with another person.  However, while there are affirmative covenants, there are no financial maintenance covenants and no restrictions on our ability to issue additional common stock to fund future working capital needs. The debt covenants associated with the loan were negotiated by the parties with a view towards our operating and financial condition as it existed at the time the agreements were executed.  At March 31, 2012, we were in compliance with its debt covenants.
 
     On July 8, 2011, we sold 363,636 shares of Common Stock at a price of $11 per share for total proceeds of $4 million.  The proceeds were used to replace the unutilized portion of our working capital facility and for general corporate purposes.
 
     On November 30, 2011, we raised $6 million in a private placement of 666,667 shares of Common Stock at a price of $9 per share.  For every three (3) shares of Common Stock issued, we issued (1) Common Stock purchase warrant (collectively, the “Warrants”) entitling the holder to purchase, commencing 90 days from the date of the issuance and prior to December 8, 2014, one (1) share of Common Stock at an exercise price of $13 per share.
 
24
 
 
     On December 14, 2011, we sold 570,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $9 per share for total proceeds of $5.1 million.
 
     Additionally, as a result of private placements conducted in 2009, the Company has 226,200 common stock purchase warrants outstanding that are exercisable at $15 and expire in October and November of 2012.  If these warrants were fully exercised, they would result in proceeds of approximately $3.4 million to the Company.
 
     As we continue to actively pursue our business strategy, additional financing will be required.  See “Outlook”, below.  The covenants in the Term Loan do not prohibit our use of additional equity financing and allow us to retain 100% of the proceeds of any equity financing.  We do not expect the loan covenants to materially limit our ability to finance our water development activities.
 
     At March 31, 2012, we had no outstanding credit facilities other than the Convertible Term Loan.
 
     Cash Used for Operating Activities .  Cash used for operating activities totaled $4.0 million and $2.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively.  The cash was primarily used to fund general and administrative expenses related to our water development efforts and due diligence costs associated with exploring the feasibility of converting the natural gas lines we have optioned to water transportation facilities.  Further, $1.0 million in cash payments related to the extension of an option agreement with El Paso Natural Gas (see “Other Development Opportunities”).
 
     Cash Used for Investing Activities .  Cash used for investing activities during the three months ended March 31, 2012 was $485 thousand compared with $1.1 million during the same period in 2011.  The 2011 period included additional investments in well-field and environmental work related to progressing the Water Project.
 
     Cash Provided Used for Financing Activities .    Cash used for financing activities for each of the three months ended March 31, 2012 and 2011 was $4 thousand.
 
Outlook
 
     Short Term Outlook .  Based on our current and anticipated usage of cash resources, we will require additional working capital commencing during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 to meet our cash resource needs from that point forward and to continue to finance our operations until such time as our asset development programs produce revenues.  If we are unable to generate cash from our current development activities, then we will need to seek additional debt or equity financing in the capital markets.  We expect to continue our historical practice of structuring our financing arrangements to match the anticipated needs of our development activities.  See "Long Term Outlook", below.  No assurances can be given, however, as to the availability or terms of any new financing.
 
25
 
 
     Long Term Outlook . In the longer term, we will need to raise additional capital to finance working capital needs, capital expenditures and any payments due under our senior secured convertible term loan at maturity.  See “Current Financing Arrangements” above.  Our future working capital needs will depend upon the specific measures we pursue in the entitlement and development of our water resources and other development.  Future capital expenditures will depend primarily on the progress of the Water Project.  Payments will be due under the Term Loan only to the extent that the Lenders elect not to exercise equity conversion rights prior to the Term Loan’s final maturity date of June 29, 2013.  We currently expect to satisfy amounts due under the Term Loan through one or more of (a) equity conversion pursuant to the terms outlined in Note 3, “Long-Term Debt”, to our Consolidated Financial Statements; (b) construction financing associated with the Water Project; (c) cash generated from further development of our other properties, such as a mitigation bank; and (d) debt or equity financing in the capital markets.  As disclosed in a Company release dated February 28, 2012, we have engaged an investment bank specializing in infrastructure financing to lead the Company through the construction financing process for the Water Project.
 
     We will evaluate the amount of cash needed, and the manner in which such cash will be raised, on an ongoing basis.  We may meet any future cash requirements through a variety of means, including debt or equity 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 our existing stockholders.  Limitations on our liquidity and ability to raise capital may adversely affect us.  Sufficient liquidity is critical to meet our resource development activities.  Although we currently expect our sources of capital to be sufficient to meet our near term liquidity needs, there can be no assurance that our liquidity requirements will continue to be satisfied.  If we cannot raise needed funds, we might be forced to make substantial reductions in our operating expenses, which could adversely affect our ability to implement our current business plan and ultimately our viability as a company.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements
 
     See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements – Description of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

Certain Known Contractual Obligations

   
Payments Due by Period
 
Contractual Obligations
 
Total
   
1 year or less
   
2-3 years
   
4-5 years
   
After 5 years
 
(in thousands)
 
                             
Long-term debt obligations
  $ 57,533     $ -     $ 57,533     $ -     $ -  
Interest Expense
    4,497       -       4,497       -       -  
Operating leases
    285       245       40       -       -  
    $ 62,315     $ 245     $ 62,070     $ -     $ -  
                                         
* The above table does not reflect unrecognized tax benefits of $3.3 million, the timing of which is uncertain. Refer to Note 7 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
 
 
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     Not included in the table above is a potential obligation to pay an amount of up to 1% of the net present value of the Water Project in consideration of certain legal and advisory services to be provided to us by Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP.  The primary services being provided are advising us as to Water Project design and implementation, permit approvals, environmental compliance, negotiation and drafting of agreements related to the Water Project.  This fee would be payable upon receipt of all environmental approvals and permits and the execution of binding agreements for at least 51% of the Water Project’s annual capacity.  A portion of this fee may be payable in stock.  Interim payments of up to $1.5 million, to be credited against the final total, would be made upon the achievement of certain specified milestones.  $500 thousand of these interim payments was earned in June 2009 in consideration for the legal and advisory services previously provided.  This arrangement may be terminated by either party upon 60 days notice, with any compensation earned but unpaid prior to termination payable following termination.

 
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk
 
     As of March 31, 2012, all of the Company's indebtedness bore interest at fixed rates; therefore, the Company is not exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates on long-term debt obligations.
 
 
Controls and Procedures
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
     The Company established disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information related to the Company, including its consolidated entities, is accumulated and communicated to senior management, including the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (the “Principal Executive Officer”) and Chief Financial Officer (the “Principal Financial Officer”) and to its Board of Directors.  Based on their evaluation as of March 31, 2012, the Company's Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms, and such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the principal executive and principal financial officers as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
 
Changes in Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting
 
     In connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act, there was no change identified in the Company's internal controls over financial reporting that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal controls over financial reporting.
 
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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
ITEM 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
     There are no material pending legal proceedings to which the Company is a party or of which any of the Company's property is the subject.
 
 
ITEM 1A.
Risk Factors

     There have been no material changes to the factors disclosed in Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.


ITEM 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
Not applicable.


ITEM 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
     Not applicable.

 
ITEM 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
 
     Not applicable.
 
 
ITEM 5.
Other Information
 
     On May 1, 2012, the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) establishing the County’s role in enforcing the groundwater management plan for the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery and Storage Project.  The form of MOU is attached as an exhibit to this Form 10-Q.
 
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ITEM 6.                      Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed or incorporated by reference as part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

 
10.1
Form of Memorandum of Understanding by and among Cadiz Inc., County of San Bernardino and Santa Margarita Water District

 
31.1
Certification of Keith Brackpool, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cadiz Inc. pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 
31.2
Certification of Timothy J. Shaheen, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Cadiz Inc. pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 
32.1
Certification of Keith Brackpool, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cadiz Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 
32.2
Certification of Timothy J. Shaheen, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Cadiz Inc. pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
 
29
 
 
SIGNATURE
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Cadiz Inc.

 
By:  /s/ Keith Brackpool May 9, 2012
  Keith Brackpool  Date 
  Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer   
  (Principal Executive Officer)   
     
By:  /s/ Timothy J. Shaheen May 9, 2012
  Timothy J. Shaheen  Date 
  Chief Financial Officer and Secretary   
  (Principal Financial Officer)   
 
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EXHIBIT 10.1
 

 
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BY AND AMONG

 
THE SANTA MARGARITA WATER DISTRICT, CADIZ INC., FENNER VALLEY MUTUAL WATER COMPANY, AND THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
 
Related to County Ordinance for Desert Groundwater Management

 
This Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) is made and entered into on May ___, 2012, by and between the Santa Margarita Water District (“SMWD”), Cadiz Inc., a Delaware Corporation (“Cadiz”), Fenner Valley Mutual Water Company, a California nonprofit mutual benefit corporation (“FVMWC”), and the County of San Bernardino, a political subdivision of the State of California (“County”).  SMWD, Cadiz, FVMWC, and County are collectively referred to herein as “Parties.”
 
RECITALS
 
1.    The County adopted a Desert Groundwater Management Ordinance, San Bernardino County Code Title 3 Division 3 Chapter 6 Article 5 sections 33.06551, et. seq. (“Ordinance”) for the protection of groundwater resources in the County, which is intended to ensure that extraction of groundwater does not exceed the safe yield of affected groundwater aquifers and to protect groundwater sources within the unadjudicated, unincorporated desert regions of the County, including the health of individual aquifers and the continued ability of those aquifers to store and maintain water.
 
2.   The operation of groundwater wells may be excluded from the Ordinance where the operator has developed a Groundwater Management, Monitoring, and Mitigation Plan approved by the County, and the operator and the County have executed a memorandum of understanding that complies with the provisions of the Ordinance and ensures that it remains enforceable by the County.
 
3.   Cadiz is the owner of approximately 45,000 acres of land in eastern San Bernardino County most of which overlies the Fenner Valley aquifer system.  Cadiz has proposed the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery, and Storage Project (“Project”) designed to appropriate groundwater from wells to be located on the Cadiz Property overlying the Orange Blossom Wash, Cadiz, Bristol and Fenner Valley aquifers (hereinafter “Fenner Valley aquifer system”), and to deliver that groundwater for municipal and industrial uses via the Colorado River Aqueduct (“CRA”).
 
4.   Cadiz has formed Fenner Valley Mutual Water Company (“FVMWC”), a non-profit entity that will operate the Proposed Project and will be solely comprised of public water systems that will own shares commensurate with their rights to receive water from the Project.  Cadiz will not own shares in FVMWC but as it is the intention of the Parties to contractually obligate FVMWC to the provisions of this MOU all references to “Cadiz Parties” shall mean collectively Cadiz and FVMWC.
 
5.   SMWD is the Lead Agency in the preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (“EIR”) for the Project and expects to receive water.  SMWD is a California Water District in Orange County, a local agency of the State with broad powers under the California Water District Act.  (Cal. Water Code, Section 34000 et. seq.)  On June 28, 2011, the County and SMWD agreed that SMWD would serve as lead agency for the Project through execution of a Memorandum of Understanding.  One year prior, SMWD signed an option agreement to participate in the Project which provides that SMWD shall have the option to acquire up to 15,000 acre-feet per year (“afy”) of conserved water and to utilize storage in the basin in exchange for paying its fair portion of environmental review costs for the Project.  Under the option agreement, SMWD will be the largest Project participant in the conservation phase, and would have the largest agency share in the FVMWC.  FVMWC is responsible for operating the Project, and providing water and wholesale delivery services to all of its members. As lead agency, SMWD will be the first agency to act on the Project and has the greatest responsibility for carrying out the Project.
 
6.   A Groundwater Management, Monitoring, and Mitigation Plan (“GMMMP”) will be finalized in connection with the preparation of the Final EIR for the Project.  The GMMMP will require monitoring of aquifer health and safe yield, groundwater levels, groundwater quality, subsidence, surface vegetation, air quality, third-party wells and springs, and the mitigation of potential undesirable results attributable to the Project set forth in the Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting Program (“MMRP”) to be adopted by SMWD pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”).  As lead agency, SMWD has the responsibility to ensure that mitigation measures are implemented in accordance with the MMRP, including any mitigation measures that are also provisions of the GMMMP.  The GMMMP and this MOU, together, will allocate complete enforcement authority to the County.  Following certification of the Final EIR, the GMMMP will be subject to County approval and a discretionary consistency determination that the GMMMP conforms to this MOU and the County Ordinance including, but not limited to, the exclusion provisions as set forth in Article 5, Section 33.06552 of the County Code.
 
7.   The obligations of the Parties under this MOU are conditioned upon compliance with CEQA.  In no event shall SMWD or the County be required to implement any provision of this MOU prior to SMWD’s approval of the Project, and the County’s taking discretionary action as a responsible agency, other than the County’s obligation under Paragraph 4(c) to exercise its discretion within 90 days of certification of the Final EIR.
 
8.   Implementation and compliance with the GMMMP and this MOU are intended to satisfy the requirements of the Ordinance and exclude the Project from the permitting requirements of the Ordinance.
 
AGREEMENT
 
NOW, THEREFORE , in consideration of the mutual covenants and conditions contained herein, the Parties agree as follows:
 
1.   Recitals Incorporated.  The foregoing Recitals are incorporated herein by this reference.
 
2.   Definitions.  The following terms shall have the meanings set forth below.
 
(a)  "Cadiz GMMMP” or “GMMMP” means the Groundwater Management, Monitoring, and Mitigation Plan to be submitted for County review and approval.
 
(b)  “Commencement” means the first production of groundwater from the Cadiz Property for the purposes of delivering water under the Project.
 
(c)  "Groundwater" means all water beneath the surface of the earth within the zone below the water table in which the soil is completely saturated with water, but does not include water that flows in known and definite channels.
 
(d)  "Ordinance" means the Desert Groundwater Management Ordinance, San Bernardino County Code, Title 3, Division 3, Chapter 6, Article 5, sections 33.06551 et seq. (the "Ordinance"), effective as of the date of execution of this MOU and attached hereto as Exhibit A.
 
(e)  “Project” means the Cadiz Valley Water Conservation, Recovery, and Storage Project that proposes to appropriate groundwater from wells to be located on the Cadiz Property overlying the Fenner Valley aquifer system and to convey that water for municipal and industrial uses.
 
(f)   “Groundwater Safe Yield” is the maximum quantity of water that can be annually withdrawn from the groundwater aquifer (i) without resulting in overdraft (ii) without adversely affecting aquifer health, and (iii) without adversely affecting the health of associated lakes, streams, springs, and seeps or their biological resources.
 
(g)  “Overdraft” means the condition of a groundwater supply in which the average annual amount of water withdrawn by pumping exceeds (i) the average annual amount of water replenishing the aquifer in any ten-year period, and (ii) groundwater that may be available as Temporary Surplus.
 
(h)  “Aquifer Health” means the geologic integrity of the aquifer, its storage capacity, and the quality of water within the aquifer.
 
(i)   “Temporary Surplus” means the planned removal of groundwater from storage pursuant to the GMMMP necessary to create underground storage space for the capture and beneficial use of natural recharge without causing Undesirable Results.
 
(j)   “Undesirable Results” means any of the following: (i) the progressive decline in groundwater levels and freshwater storage below a “floor” to be established by the County through the GMMMP; (ii) the progressive decline in groundwater levels and freshwater storage at a rate greater than the rate of decline to be established by the County through the GMMMP; (iii) land subsidence, (iv) the progressive migration of hyper-saline water from beneath the Cadiz or Bristol Dry Lakes toward the Project well sites; (v) increases in air quality particulate matter; (vi) loss of surface vegetation; or (vii) decreases in spring flows.
 
(k)  “Technical Review Panel” means the review panel comprised of technical experts to be appointed by the Parties pursuant to the GMMMP to review and analyze data, assess deviations from predicted model results, make findings, and recommend corrective actions and refinements in the ongoing monitoring regime and GMMMP.
 
3.   Groundwater Management Plan Development and Implementation.
 
(a)  In consultation with the County, SMWD and Cadiz shall develop a Groundwater Management, Mitigation, and Monitoring Plan (“GMMMP”) to govern the operation and management of the Project by FVMWC during the operational phase of the Project, the currently anticipated term of which is 50 years.  Subject to the County’s determinations in Paragraph 4, below, the GMMMP will specify an initial extraction rate of 50,000 afy (“Initial Extraction Rate”).  The GMMMP will include groundwater quality and groundwater level monitoring requirements and groundwater management thresholds.  The Board of Supervisors of the County will consider whether to approve the GMMMP at a noticed public meeting prior to County’s approval of the Project.
 
(b)  To develop the GMMMP’s groundwater management thresholds, SMWD’s and Cadiz designated consultant shall work in conjunction with the County’s designated consultant to (i) identify the groundwater levels that will serve as monitoring targets and a “floor” for the maximum groundwater drawdown level in the Project wellfield, and (ii) establish a projected rate of decline in the groundwater table.  The Parties, as part of that analysis, may rely on existing numerical models and shall develop preliminary mitigation strategies including but not limited to changes in the timing and location of extractions and estimates of the possible future reductions in the extraction rate which may be necessary to avoid Undesirable Results and Overdraft during the remaining operational phase of the Project.
 
(c)  Once the GMMMP is completed and the Project is approved by the County, SMWD and FVMWC shall operate the Project in compliance with the GMMMP subject to continuing assessment, oversight, and enforcement by the County as set forth in this MOU, the Ordinance, and the GMMMP.  Specifically, the Initial Extraction Rate specified in sub-paragraph 3(a), above, may be subject to reduction by the County during the operational phase of the Project as necessary to avoid Undesirable Results or Overdraft.
 
(d)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this MOU, SMWD, FVMWC and Cadiz acknowledge and agree that the County will retain full authority and discretion to modify Project operations (including but not limited to the institution of mitigation measures or the curtailment or cessation of Project-related groundwater pumping) as necessary to avoid Overdraft or Undesirable Results.
 
(e)   The GMMMP will include provisions for the establishment of a Technical Review Panel (“TRP”) to be comprised of members appointed by the Parties.  The TRP will be responsible for the evaluation of (i) monitoring protocols (including quality assurance and quality control) and methods of data collection and processing; (ii) the rate of decline in the groundwater elevations; (iii) groundwater levels and quality; and (iv) the Project’s potential to cause Undesirable Results.  The TRP may make recommendations to the County or the County may request recommendations from the TRP that require additional monitoring, mitigation, and changes to Project operations as set forth in the GMMMP.
 
(f)  In the event SMWD, FVMWC and Cadiz propose to implement Phase 2 of the Project (temporary storage of imported water), the Parties will amend this MOU in compliance with the Ordinance and complete a subsequent or supplemental EIR as may be required by CEQA.
 
(g)  SMWD, FVMWC and Cadiz will prepare and submit to the County for approval a Closure Plan for the Project no later than 25 years after Project Commencement.  The Closure Plan will be developed to ensure that no residual effects of the Project operations will cause Undesirable Results during the post-operational phase of the Project and period of extended monitoring.
 
(h)  SMWD, FVMWC and Cadiz will initiate monitoring as set forth in the GMMMP upon the initiation of construction and no later than one year before Commencement.  SMWD, FVMWC, and Cadiz shall share groundwater monitoring information and coordinate monitoring efforts with the County, including advanced review and approval of any changes in monitoring protocols and frequency.
 
4.   County Ordinance.
 
(a)  The Parties agree and acknowledge that compliance by SMWD, FVMWC, and Cadiz with the provisions of this MOU and the GMMMP will satisfy the requirements for an exclusion from the permitting requirements of the Ordinance, pursuant to the Scope and Exclusions section of the Ordinance, with respect to the Project and related facilities (including but not limited to the design, construction, and operation of groundwater wells and pipelines).  The Project shall not proceed and the Project’s exclusion from the Ordinance shall not become effective, however, unless and until the Parties have finalized the GMMMP based upon information produced from the CEQA environmental review process and following public review and all legally required procedures.  The GMMMP will be subject to enforcement by the County.
 
(b)  This MOU is entered to establish a process for completing a GMMMP that comports with the County Ordinance and CEQA.  Pending completion and approval of the GMMMP, the Project remains subject to the County's full exercise of discretion as a Responsible Agency under CEQA to consider the Final EIR certified by SMWD and to approve or disapprove the Project and to require the Project to undertake mitigation measures or alternatives as may be set forth in the Final EIR or under the County’s Ordinance.  Pursuant to CEQA Guideline section 15097(a), SMWD will delegate to the County the reporting and monitoring responsibilities for those mitigation measures in the MMRP that are also included in the GMMMP.  The Parties further acknowledge and agree that any modifications to the Project resulting from SMWD’s or the County’s compliance with CEQA may necessitate amendments to this MOU in a mutually acceptable manner.
 
(c)  The County will conduct all necessary hearings regarding its discretionary approval(s) for the Project within ninety (90) days of SMWD’s certification of the Project EIR.
 
5.   Term.  This MOU shall be effective from the date first written above and coterminous with schedules included in the approved Closure Plan, unless earlier terminated by the unanimous written agreement of the Parties.
 
6.   Termination.  This MOU may be terminated at any time by the mutual and unanimous agreement of SMWD, the County, FVMWC and Cadiz or in the event that all discretionary approvals for the Project are not granted within 60 months from the date of the approval of the GMMMP by the County, except this 60-month period will be tolled during the pendency of any litigation filed against the Project.
 
7.   Enforcement.  To ensure that the measures identified in the GMMMP are fully implemented and enforced in accordance with sections 33.06552(b)(2)(A)-(2)(B) of the Ordinance, the County will exercise power of enforcement.  The power of enforcement shall include the discretion to, at any and all reasonable times, enter the Cadiz and FVMWC Property and any associated enclosures, structures, and facilities for the purposes of making examinations and investigations to determine whether any provision of this MOU, the GMMMP, or the applicable provisions of the Ordinance are being adhered to.
 
8.   Dispute Resolution.  The County, SMWD, FVMWC and Cadiz will exercise good faith and reasonable efforts to resolve any issues, claims, or disputes that may arise under the GMMMP, the Ordinance, or this MOU (hereinafter collectively “Dispute”).  In the event that such efforts are unsuccessful, any Party may commence mediation by providing to Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (“JAMS”) and the other Parties a written request for mediation setting forth the subject of the Dispute and the relief requested.  The Parties will cooperate with JAMS and with one another in selecting a mediator from the JAMS panel of neutrals and in scheduling mediation proceedings.  The Parties agree that they will participate in the mediation in good faith and that they will share equally in its costs.  The mediation will conclude within 60 days following delivery of the written request for mediation unless such period is extended by the written agreement of all Parties.  In the event the mediation is unsuccessful in resolving the Dispute, each Party will retain all rights to seek judicial review of the Dispute in accordance with applicable law.  Except for disputes involving immediate or irreparable injury to any Party, compliance with the provisions of this Paragraph 8 will be a pre-requisite to the commencement of judicial proceeding relating to any Dispute.  Disputes involving immediate or irreparable injury to any Party, including enforcement actions by the County necessary to avoid Overdraft or Undesirable Results, shall be subject to direct judicial review after prior written notice to the Parties and the expiration of a reasonable cure period without cure.
 
9.   Reimbursements.  The County and SMWD shall be reimbursed by Cadiz for the costs of their assigned staff and the fees and costs of their consultants and attorneys reasonably incurred in the oversight and enforcement of the GMMMP or this MOU.
 
10.   County Reserved Water.
 
a.  FVMWC and Cadiz will reserve twenty-five thousand acre-feet (25,000 af) of groundwater underneath the Cadiz Property until that water can be delivered as designated by the County.
 
b.  So long as conveyance capacity is available, FVMWC and Cadiz shall deliver any part of the 25,000 af to the Colorado River Aqueduct ("CRA") upon request by the County.
 
c.   The County shall reimburse FVMWC and Cadiz for the incremental cost of conveying the stored water to the CRA.
 
d.   If the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (“IEUA”) elects to participate in the Project and approves and executes a long-term water purchase agreement for a minimum of five thousand acre-feet per year (5,000 afy), then the County will also make this one-time supply of twenty-five thousand acre-feet (25,000 af) available exclusively to IEUA or its designees at a price equal to the County's cost of all "out of pocket costs" plus $100 per acre-foot.  If IEUA elects not to participate, then the County may make the water available for any price to any party that it may determine, in its complete discretion.
 
e.    All deliveries will be made within five (5) years from the date of any County request for delivery that follows the completion of Project construction.
 
f.     The County shall bear all costs of environmental review and permitting attributable to delivery of this stored groundwater.
 
11.   County Reserved Rights for Future Use.  Twenty percent (20%) of the total Project annual yield will be reserved for the benefit of future San Bernardino County users for a period of 50 years.
 
a.   Upon the five-year anniversary of the commencement of the Project and each ten-year anniversary thereafter, any public water supplier in the County may make request to the County to exercise some or all of the County’s reserved right from the Project (cumulative of all requests).  In its discretion upon such a request, the County may assign some or all of its reserved right to the public water supplier.
 
b.  To obtain the water, the County or its assignee must agree to execute a “take or pay” agreement on terms similar to those of other public water suppliers participating in the Project for the delivery of the water and to agree to reimburse the Project, and specifically the Project Participant(s), for their pro-rata allocated share of capital costs, if any, attributable to that quantity of water requested.
 
c.   The “take or pay” contract must be coterminous with the remaining years of the Project.
 
d.   This groundwater will be made available as requested by the County or its assignee within one (1) year of the request, provided that the request is in compliance with all applicable laws, including but not limited to the California Environmental Quality Act.  The County or its assignee will bear the full cost of environmental review and permitting.
 
12.   Construction and Interpretation. It is agreed and acknowledged by the parties that this MOU has been arrived at through negotiation, and that each Party has had a full and fair opportunity to revise the terms of this MOU.  Consequently, the normal rule of construction that any ambiguities are to be resolved against the drafting party shall not apply in construing or interpreting this MOU.
 
13.   Severability. The invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability of any provision of this MOU shall not render the other provisions unenforceable, invalid, or illegal.
 
14.   Governing Law and Venue. This MOU shall be interpreted and enforced pursuant to the laws of the State of California and the venue for any dispute shall be in San Bernardino County.
 
15.   Amendments.  This MOU can only be modified by a written instrument executed by all parties.
 
16.   Entire MOU.  This MOU contains the entire understanding of the parties related to their interests.  Obligations and rights in connection with the subject matter set forth herein. All prior communications, negotiations, stipulations, and understandings, whether oral or written, are of no force or effect, and are superseded, except as referenced herein.
 
17.   Assigns and Successors.  This MOU shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the assigns or successors-in-interest of the Parties herein.  The assignment of Cadiz interest in this MOU shall not be assigned unless Cadiz or its assignee(s) provides the Parties thirty (30)-days prior written notice and receives approval by the County, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.  Cadiz covenants to ensure that FVMWC governing instruments require compliance with this MOU and the GMMMP.
 
18.   No Third-Party Beneficiary.  The parties to this MOU do not intend to create any third-party beneficiaries to this MOU, and expressly deny the creation of any third-party beneficiary rights hereunder toward any person or entity.
 
19.   Time.  Time is of the essence in the performance of each and every term of this MOU.
 
20.   No Waiver.  The failure to declare a breach as a result of the violation of any term of this MOU shall not constitute a waiver of that term or condition and shall not provide the basis for a claim of estoppel, forgiveness, or waiver by any party to that term or condition.
 
21.   Captions.  The paragraph captions in this MOU are for convenience only and shall not be used in construing the MOU.
 
22.   Documents.  Each party agrees to make, execute, and deliver any and all documents and to join in any application or other action reasonably required implementing this MOU.
 
23.   Notices.  Any and all communications and notices in connection with this MOU shall be hand-delivered or sent by United States first class mail, postage prepaid, and addressed as follows:
 
To SMWD:

Santa Margarita Water District
Attn: General Manager
Post Office Box 7005
Mission Viejo, CA 92690-7005

To Cadiz:

Cadiz Inc.
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
550 South Hope Street, Suite 2850
Los Angeles, CA  90071

To FVMWC:
550 South Hope Street, Suite 2850
Los Angeles, CA 90071

To County:

County of San Bernardino
Attn: Chief Executive Officer
385 N. Arrowhead Avenue, Fifth Floor
San Bernardino, CA 92415

The parties may change the foregoing addresses by providing written notice to the Parties in compliance with this Paragraph 23.
 
24.   Indemnification.  Cadiz shall indemnify and hold harmless the County and its agents, officers, and employees from and against all claims, liabilities, damages, or costs  arising from or relating to any administrative or judicial action brought by any third party against the County, its agents, officers, or employees, that may arise from or in any manner relate to the County’s approval of the Project or this MOU, including the County’s determinations as a responsible agency under CEQA.  This indemnification shall include, but is not limited to, damages awarded against the County, if any, costs of suit, attorneys’ fees, expert consultant or witness fees, and other expenses incurred in connection with any such action.
 
Cadiz shall indemnify and hold harmless the SMWD and its agents, officers, and employees from and against all claims, liabilities, damages, or costs  arising from or relating to any administrative or judicial action brought by any third party against the SMWD, its agents, officers, or employees, that may arise from or in any manner relate to the SMWD’s approval of the Project or this MOU, including the SMWD’s determinations as lead agency under CEQA.  This indemnification shall include, but is not limited to, damages awarded against the SMWD, if any, costs of suit, attorneys’ fees, expert consultant or witness fees, and other expenses incurred in connection with any such action.
 
25.   Binding effect.  The Parties acknowledge and agree that this MOU constitutes a binding contract enforceable under California law.
 
26.   Authority.  Each party represents and warrants to the others that: (a) it has the requisite legal capacity and authority to enter into and fully perform each and all of its obligations under this MOU, and (b) this MOU does not in any way violate any covenant, contract, agreement, instrument, or understanding by which such party is bound.
 
COUNTY
_____________
Date
COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO
By: ______________________________
Title: _____________________________
SMWD
______________
Date
SANTA MARGARITA WATER DISTRICT
By: ________________________________
Title:_______________________________
CADIZ
______________
Date
CADIZ INC .
By: ________________________________
Title:_______________________________
FVMWC
______________
Date
FENNER VALLEY MUTUAL WATER COMPANY
By: ________________________________
Title:_______________________________



EXHIBIT 31.1

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Keith Brackpool, certify that:
 
     1.  I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Cadiz Inc.;
 
     2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
    
     3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
     4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonable likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
 
     5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: May 9, 2012
 
 
/s/ Keith Brackpool
Keith Brackpool
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

EXHIBIT 31.2

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE
SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

I, Timothy J. Shaheen, certify that:
 
     1.  I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Cadiz Inc.;
 
     2.  Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;
    
     3.  Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;
 
     4.  The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

a)  Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonable likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and
 
     5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):
 
a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Dated: May 9, 2012
 
 
/s/ Timothy J. Shaheen
Timothy J. Shaheen
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

                                                   EXHIBIT 32.1

STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
BY PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER


      I, Keith Brackpool, herby certify, to my knowledge, that:

      1. the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Cadiz Inc. for the period ended March 31, 2012 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

      2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Cadiz Inc.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Statement as of the date first written above.

Dated: May 9, 2012
 
 
/s/ Keith Brackpool
Keith Brackpool
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer


                                                           EXHIBIT 32.2

STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002
BY PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER


      I, Timothy J. Shaheen, herby certify, to my knowledge, that:

      1. the accompanying Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of Cadiz Inc. for the period ended March 31, 2012 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

      2. the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Cadiz Inc.

      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Statement as of the date first written above.

Dated: May 9, 2012
 
 
/s/ Timothy J. Shaheen
Timothy J. Shaheen
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary