The P.E.I. government has struck a committee to look at what to do with excess land purchased in connection with the Trans-Canada Highway construction project west of Charlottetown.

Some land will be protected, says Todd Dupuis of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

The province has about 160 hectares it has bought that it does not need for the highway. Finding a use for that land was one of the stipulations of the environmental approval given to the project.

Todd Dupuis, executive director of regional programs for the Atlantic Salmon Federation and resident of the area, said the public will have a chance to discuss a plan for the land in the spring.

"Optimistically we'll have something for government hopefully by late spring, or least something up on the web site for comment by the public," said Dupuis.

"We hope to have a draft report done by summer."

The committee will look to protect some of the sensitive land in the area while using other land for recreation, he said.

The government has not yet said how much it is willing to spend on the project.