The benthic Vananda Creek stickleback lives in Balkwill, Emily and Priest lakes on Texada Island. The island is located between Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia. These small coastal lakes are connected by marshes or streams, enabling the fish to move between them. Dense beds of aquatic plants cover the littoral zone of the lakes in the summer.

Only 35 to 55 mm in length when fully mature, the benthic Vananda Creek stickleback is a lean fish with an elongated body that tapers to a slender tail. The fish has delicate fins and a wide mouth. Protected by calcified lateral plates, the stickleback's body varies from silver through to mottled green and brown. Males become completely black or develop bright-red throats when they reach sexual maturity.