Ok so with soaring gas prices you would think a guy could use one of the many WDFW boat launches on the numerous small lakes around our fine state to launch a boat and fish with just the trolling motor.   Well NO you cant.  Nearly every lake within 20 miles of my house ( fall city) with the exception of sammamish is no motors allowed!   When did this all happen.  Good thing I bought this boat I cant use!  Ok I'm done I feel better now. 

My livingston got speared by a tree this last winter so now I guess I'm screwed   

Another reason this state sucks! I mean serious? You aren't even running it!! Maybe the sight of the motor scares the fish...........

Well not so unlikely a few years back on shady or was it shadow lake I never keep those two straight. A boat with a gas motor was sunk right at the launch huge oil slick what a mess.The State told me that the reasons was if your electric motor went out then you might want to use your gas motor to get back to the launch. Also they said even if you trim motor out of the water it could still drip. I don't think a few drips would do near the harm that a home owner does with lawn fertilizer.
Last year Spring Lake a home owners heating oil tank leaked you should have seen & smelled that mess. I called & they said were aware of it. The lady was like its not that big of a deal cause diesel will evaporate fast.  
All I can say both of those lakes are crap now after the spills & they use to produce good fish.

I made a ton of phone calls about this several years ago.  The Sherrifs Dept is actually who gets called when a homeowner complains. They said, it is ok to have it on the boat you are using as long as it is raised from the water with a plastic bag covering the lower unit. However, the Game and Fish Dept said, the sin reads "NO INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES ALLOWED" which means it can not be on the boat.  Kind of a GREY area in our world so full of Rules, Laws and Regs.... ????????