The benthic Paxton Lake stickleback lives in Paxton Lake on Texada Island. The island is located between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. This small lake is approximately 15 metres deep, and is isolated from the sea by a series of small waterfalls that drop about 80 metres. There is no permanent surface water flow into the lake. Usually to be found in the littoral zone-the part of the lake closest to the shore-in summer, the benthic Paxton Lake stickleback prefer to swim close to some sort of cover. The fish is often found around sunken logs; nests are found in aquatic vegetation. Spawning occurs in shallower waters. In winter, the sticklebacks disperse over the entire lake floor.

Up to nine centimeters in length when fully mature, the benthic Paxton Lake stickleback is a lean fish with an elongated body that tapers to a slender tail. The fish has a wide mouth and fewer spines than other species of stickleback.