The Canton Local Protection Project is located along the East Branch of the Neponset River in Canton. The project provides flood protection by diverting potential floodwaters from the East Branch of the Neponset River around the Plymouth Rubber Company and several other commercial firms located along the riverbank.
Construction started in June 1962 and was completed in July 1963, costing $274,000. It is a small project, built under Section 205 of the Continuing Authorities Program, and is operated and maintained by the town of Canton.
The project consists of a concrete dam 160 feet long with a maximum height of 80 feet located adjacent to the Plymouth Rubber Company dam; four concrete floodwalls totaling 181 feet located adjacent to the Plymouth Rubber Company dam and the Corps-built dam; a 1,600-foot-long diversion channel below the Corps-built dam; an earthfill dike with stone slope protection along the right bank; stone slope protection along the left bank; a gated intake structure that controls the flow of processed water to the Plymouth Rubber Company; and a metal culvert two feet in diameter that drains interior surface water from the Plymouth Rubber Company.