When the River Runs Dry rallies were held at Bourke, Dareton, Dubbo, Menindee, Walgett and Wilcannia on Sunday, as well as smaller events such as in Gunnedah.

NSW Aboriginal Land Council (NSWALC) northern region councillor Charles Lynch said the latter was reported to have had "a good roll-up of community [in] a shoutout in support of the remote communities".

Mr Lynch was in Menindee and said the high profile of the day of action "absolutely emphasises the importance of the Aboriginal community being involved with water, and the other key factors that need to be addressed".

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The NSWALC, which declared the day of action, is calling for Indigenous people to be consulted on decisions affecting their local rivers.

"They may not have all the answers, but they certainly need to be to be consulted," Mr Lynch said.

"Water is a basic human right and we need to ensure that, on water management in the future, we get it right.

"State council is taking a lead role in this, in highlighting the issues, and we do want a position for an Aboriginal person on the Murray Darling Basin Authority on the federal level, but it can’t be tokenistic."

The NSWALC also wants a royal commission into the management of the Murray Darling Basin; a state inquiry into the management of NSW water and river systems; and a suspension of water trading in the Barwon Darling River system.