My understanding is there are only a few areas in the world climate suitable for commercial almond farming. Among them Spain, areas of Australia and California (which produces most of the worlds almonds). Move the Alfalfa first. It uses in sum more California water than almonds and you can grow it in many locations.
Incidentally, the idea of growing almonds indoors is just plain nuts:)
You would have to have a lot of indoor space and the return would likely not even close to cover the cost. Ever. Even if almonds cost 5 times as much. Even if you bred little tiny almond trees (which could probably be done as they have miniature peach trees and vertical espelied peach trees and almonds are essentially a type of peach pit)
The areas that are suitable is a function of the price. If the Californian Almond industry runs out of water then other more marginal areas will become viable.
They require a certain climate. That's why they aren't already being commercially planted in other places which they would be at current high prices if commercial production in those places were viable.
The media like to beat up on California nuts. But really, the largest and most unnecessary user of California water is Alfalfa. That is the low hanging fruit (no pun intended) in water savings.
Yes the major problem with water in California is its current ownership and pricing. Almonds should be near the top of the most productive agricultural uses of water. Almonds also look rather nice - certainly much more interesting than alfalfa.
