Lake Hume and Dartmouth well below levels from 12 months ago

Dartmouth is presently 68 per cent of capacity compared to 94.8 per cent only 12 months ago.

Lake Hume is a similar story at 48 per cent compared to 73.36 per cent last year.

The combined storage is 30.3 per cent below the same time last year and comes exactly two years since Dartmouth almost spilled over for the first time since 1996.

Dartmouth has decreased by 30 gigalitres to 2641 gigalitres in recent times with the MDBA confirming "bulk transfers" to Lake Hume are taking place to meet coming irrigation requirements.

Despite perceptions of a wet winter, Murray River system inflows for winter totalled around 1330 gigalitres compared to the long-term average of 3580 gigalitres.

It put winter 2015 in the lowest 18 per cent of winters on record and remains consistent with downward trends in late autumn and early winter rainfall and streamflows observed in south-east Australia since the mid-1990s.

Ms Ley has invited MDBA chairman Neil Andrew to the region to address concerns from irrigators, landholders and other community members about modelling used by the MDBA, specifically towards environmental flow targets and the targeted buy backs.

“The feedback I also get is the authority needs to consult more widely with people affected by the basin plan," Ms Ley said.

“This is exactly why I have invited Neil to visit.”

Southern Riverina Irrigatiors are planning to send some “clear messages” when they visit Deniliquin this week.

“It is obvious to everyone involved in food production and our local communities that the plan is not working and the balance between availability and access to water for food production and environmental flows needs to be re-assessed,” spokesperson Shelley Scoullar said.

“If we do not make adjustments to support food production we risk leaving terrible legacy to our children.”