diff --git a/compass/version.py b/compass/version.py
index 48a3c1efd0..e114e459ae 100644
--- a/compass/version.py
+++ b/compass/version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = '1.4.0-alpha.4'
+__version__ = '1.4.0-alpha.5'
diff --git a/conda/compass_env/spec-file.template b/conda/compass_env/spec-file.template
index 4428357983..bcda5b8520 100644
--- a/conda/compass_env/spec-file.template
+++ b/conda/compass_env/spec-file.template
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ lxml
 {% if include_mache %}
 mache=1.23.0
 {% endif %}
-matplotlib-base >=3.9.0
+matplotlib-base >=3.8.4
 metis
 moab >=5.5.1
 moab=*={{ mpi_prefix }}_tempest_*
-mpas_tools=0.34.1
+mpas_tools=0.34.0
 nco
 netcdf4=*=nompi_*
 numpy >=2.0,<3.0