For the second time in less than two years, a small community in far west New South Wales has rallied to express its pain and passion about the health of its river.

A dead kangaroo lies in the Darling River at Wilcannia. ( ABC News: Aimee Volkofsky )

Large sections of the Darling River, south of Bourke, are dry or speckled with puddles of stagnant water and blue green algae blooms.

At least 150 visitors and Wilcannia locals, mainly Barkindji people, blockaded the town's bridge many times over the long weekend.

"Oh, the Darling River. We are the people of the river. The Barkindji people of the river. The river is our home," children sang as they marched.

They were similar scenes to the protests in June 2016. This year, there were more children on the bridge, traditional dances between marches, and a dead kangaroo that lay in the murky river below.

"Our elders are dying because our river system is dying. We have a dead kangaroo laying in our water. It's toxic," said Wilcannia resident and Barkindji woman Monica Kerwin.

"We don't want [the government's] billions of dollars poured into our community. We want our water flowing because that gives people hope and it brings people together."

More scrutiny but little change

Wilcannia locals stand in a dry part of the Darling River which is surrounded by puddles that they have been warned not to touch or drink. ( ABC Broken Hill: Aimee Volkofsky )

Ms Kerwin, the chairwoman of the Wilcannia Community Workers Party, was proud but also angry that she had gathered for a second protest with other Barkindji locals.

"We wouldn't have these protests if [the government] was listening," Ms Kerwin said.

A lot has happened between the two rallies. The river flowed for a while following heavy rainfall in the Barwon-Darling catchments.

Since then, it has been very dry in the far west.

The media increased its reporting on alleged water theft and government mismanagement in the Barwon-Darling system, and authorities began prosecuting irrigators.

The NSW Government also introduced restrictions on irrigators in March this year so that recent falls over Queensland could flow down the Darling.

Some of that water is expected to reach Wilcannia within weeks but may not be enough to prevent the town moving to bore water soon.

Despite the action, Wilcannia locals believe a healthy river will be the only proof that the government is doing enough and irrigators are following the rules.

Spirit alive in young and old

Barkindji elder Cyril Hunter misses catching fish from the Darling. ( ABC News: Aimee Volkofsky )

Barkindji elder Cyril Hunter, 71, attended the rally and said he was the oldest resident in Wilcannia.

"I grew up on the river in a tin hut, walked over the old bridge going to school, looked down at the river and saw all colours of fish swimming underneath," Mr Hunter said.

"Years ago when we used to go fishing, we'd dip our cup in for a drink and now it's nothing. We got no water now in the river.

"Nearly every month we go and have meetings with the state, for my people, they still don't want to listen to us.

13-year-old Knomi Johnson is of Barkindji, Ku Ku Yalanji and Woppaburra descent. ( ABC News: Sofie Wainwright )

"I am fighting for what we believe is ours and I will keep on fighting until we get it."

His 13-year-old granddaughter Knomi Johnson showed the same spirit. She paused before answering what the Darling River meant to her.

"I can't explain that one. It just means a lot to me, yeah, and my family," Ms Johnson said.

"The river — it helps with food, you can get washed, you have a lot of fun down there. When it's very low you can't really do them things much.

"It makes me kind of sad, angry and makes me want to fight for it."

Little confidence in government

A small boy looks down at the low Darling River during one of the many marches at the weekend. ( ABC News: Sofie Wainwright )

Ms Kerwin feared she would not see the river run again.

"I don't care if it's at a steady flow but I will never see that [river run]," Ms Kerwin said.

"I'm not going to see the water flow again. Not in my lifetime … I don't think my grandkids will see the water flow.

"[The protest] gives people something, hope, you know. It's the hope that somebody is actually listening and wants to hear the cries of the river people."

Signs demanding a healthy Darling River are stuck on fences and poles in Wilcannia. ( ABC News: Sofie Wainwright )

Barkindji woman Maria Wilson felt nothing had changed between the two protests and believed the only way forward was a treaty between Aboriginal people and the government.

"I feel like crying because [the river] wasn't like that when I was growing up," Ms Wilson said.

"I don't feel they are going to help us and they are going to let it run free.

"I think we have to take more steps … and a treaty would be the answer. If we get our treaty then things will happen."