Sync with MPAS-Dev v8.4.2 release - #287

Node.js 20 is deprecated. The following actions target Node.js 20 but are being forced to run on Node.js 24: actions/upload-artifact@v4. For more information see: https://github.blog/changelog/2025-09-19-deprecation-of-node-20-on-github-actions-runners/

`auto-activate-base` is deprecated. Please use `auto-activate`. If your installer does not use the `base` environment as the default environment, also add `activate-environment: base`.